Langston Hughes’ poem “I Dream A World” provides the inspiration for the youth choral concert.

In a season full of programs celebrating America’s 250th anniversary, the voices of the Boston Children’s Choir ring particularly strong. This weekend, the choir will perform a free community concert with the Boston City Singers and the Handel and Haydn Society Youth Choruses Chamber Choir celebrating Black literary luminaries in American history.

Each choir will present a different musical setting of Langston Hughes’ poem “I Dream A World,” composed by Rollo Dilworth, Mike Block, Andre Thomas, Dan Welcher and others.

The performance also features two compositions honoring Phillis Wheatley, the first published African American author. In one piece, cellists Mike Block and Ricardo Sardinas created a lively arrangement of Wheatley’s poem “A Farewell to America.” And in a world premiere, composer B. E. Boykin and author brittny ray crowell set a series of Wheatley’s texts to create a new piece titled “Freedom Hymn.”

Boykin’s roots with Wheatley run deep. While attending high school in northern Virginia, she participated in a choir called the Colonial Singers, an ensemble in which everyone dressed as a colonial alter-ego. Boykin took on Wheatley’s persona and read her poetry as part of the performance.

“Here we are almost 20 years later and this is my first project ever to invite me into setting some of her poetry,” said Boykin. “It feels like a full-circle moment.”

As part of the process Boykin, who says she’s not a writer, tapped colleague brittny ray crowell to compose a cento, a patchwork poem created using lines from the original poet’s work. crowell uses Wheatley’s words to create a new composition titled “Freedom Hymn (A Cento): Ode To Our Muse of Morning” that inspired Boykin’s music.

“It’s important for her voice not to be overlooked,” said Boykin. “Even though she had the opportunity to publish her work, I don’t know if she was really able to see her aspirations and her dreams for her writing come to fruition.”

This free concert will be Saturday, April 11 at 3 p.m. at Roxbury Community College. The performance is recommended for ages eight and up but all are welcome.

Boykin hopes the joyful concert will encourage audience members to look more deeply into these literary icons.

“I hope that the concert creates a level of curiosity and interest in Wheatley and her life and in her work,” she said. “This is another way to celebrate American history and American identity through remembering her and remembering her story.”

ON THE WEB

Learn more at vivoperformingarts.org/productions/i-dream-a-world-youth-choral-festival