RiverArts will present a two-part concert series next weekend, belatedly honoring the 250th birthday of Ludwig van Beethoven. The event, on April 30 and May 1 at the Irvington Presbyterian Church, features cellist Peter Seidenberg and pianist Hui-Mei Lin, who have toured as a duo throughout the U.S., playing at universities and concert halls.

African American spirituals are a part of our collective culture, but their roots and true meanings are not universally known, even within the African American community.

Yolanda F. Johnson, who is working to build understanding of the genre, will share her expertise on the subject during “A Spirituals Experience,” a special event this Saturday, April 2, presented by RiverArts at First Baptist Church in Tarrytown, where Johnson is the music director.

Yolanda F. Johnson to Perform “A Spirituals Experience” in Tarrytown. This program, which is part-lecture, part-recital, first premiered in Harlem in February 2011 for Black History Month. Yolanda offers unique insight on traditional spirituals and illuminates their hidden meaning through performance and conversation. RiverArts’ Producer, Marie-Louise Miller, leads a conversation with Yolanda. There will be an opportunity to take audience questions.