Black History Month

Rochester, NY-born musician Adolphus Hailstork is a Professor of Music and Eminent Scholar at Old Dominion University in Norfolk. Dr. Hailstork trained at Manhattan School of Music, at the American Institute at Fontainebleau with Nadia Boulanger, and at Howard University, and earned his doctorate in composition from Michigan State University. A prolific composer, his expansive […]

Violinist Kelly Hall-Tompkins is an internationally acclaimed soloist and chamber musician. She also channels her musical passion as an entrepreneur promoting classical Music and social justice causes. In 2005, she founded Music Kitchen Food for the Soul, which brings top level classical music performances to people experiencing homelessness. There’s a link below to Music Kitchen’s

In 2015, double bass player Chi-chi Nwanoku CBE founded Chineke! to provide career opportunities for Black and ethnically diverse classical musicians in the UK and Europe. Chineke!’s mission is: ‘Championing change and celebrating diversity in classical music’. Today’s Beautiful Music is Chineke’s October 2020 performance at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, in a concert entitled

British musician Wayne Marshall is a pianist, organist, and conductor. The versatile performer has had a wide variety of prominent positions in the international classical music world, including Chief Conductor of WDR Funkhaus Orchestra Cologne and Principal Guest Conductor of Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano Giuseppe Verdi; and conductor of the first performance of Chineke! at the

Tennessee native Andrew Brady is a 2013 graduate of The Colburn School Conservatory of Music who earned the Principal Bassoon position with Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra beginning in the 22/23 season. He’d previously held the Principal Bassoon position with Atlanta Symphony Orchestra starting in January 2016. Today’s Beautiful Music is an excerpt from Andrew Brady’s solo

The Grammy-winning, multi-talented singer/songwriter/conductor Bobby McFerrin is the son of musicians — his father, Robert McFerrin Sr. was a prominent opera singer. The Arkansas-born baritone debuted with New York’s Metropolitan Opera in 1955, becoming the first African-American man in the company. Mr. McFerrin Sr. also sang with the National Negro Opera Company and the New York

One of today’s most exciting and talented chamber groups is Imani Winds. The Grammy-nominated ensemble was founded in 1997 by flutist Valerie Coleman. They have cultivated a reputation for their broad repertory that ranges from standard woodwind quintet music, to adaptations of classic works, to contemporary commissions. Today’s Beautiful Music features Imani Winds performing a

Today’s Beautiful Music was composed by American composer, pianist, and educator George Walker who lived from 1922-2018. In 1996 he became the first first African American person to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music. It was his 1955 composition for voice and orchestra, LILACS, that earned him the award, and it is today’s Beautiful Music.

Today’s Beautiful Music is a moving and passionate 2009 performance of AMAZING GRACE by Soweto Gospel Choir. You can also use the link below to learn more about the history of this beautiful song, and the transformative journey of its writer. https://www.loc.gov/item/ihas.200149085/

On this first day of February, we begin our month-long celebration of Black History Month in the United States. It’s a time to place special focus and emphasis on the contributions and achievements of African American people. Today’s Beautiful Music is a moving performance of LIFT EVERY VOICE AND SING, hymn with lyrics by NAACP