Black Classical Composers and Musicians

[James DePreist] Media-Newswire.com November 16, 2009 “James DePreist, Symphony Conductor and Penn Alumnus, Receives University's Inaugural Creative Spirit Award PHILADELPHIA the Internationally acclaimed maestro James A. DePreist received the University of Pennsylvania's first Creative Spirit Award in recognition of his artistic leadership and life-long commitment to the arts. The award, a highlight of Penn’s yearlong celebration of Arts and the City Year, was presented during ceremonies at the 75th Alumni Award of Merit gala, an annual event that recognizes outstanding Penn alumni volunteerism. “DePreist, who is currently director of conducting and orchestral studies at the Juilliard School in New York and laureate music director ... Read Full Story

[Thomas "Blind Tom" Wiggins (top); Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges, Arion 68093 (center); George Walker (bottom)] The Afro-American Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Janise White and accompanied by violinist Christopher Woods, presented works of Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges, Tom Bethune and George Walker in a “Black Symphonists Concert” at 5:00 PM on Sunday, May 24, 2009 at Wilshire United Methodist Church, 4350 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California. The concert was supported in part by the Department of Cultural Affairs, City of Los Angeles. Afro-American Chamber Orchestra: T he nationally acclaimed orchestra was founded in 1987 by Professors Janise White, Valencia Mitchell, Violists, Robin Ross and the ... Read Full Story

[ Classics Online Exclusive: The Violin Concerto Collection ; Saint-Georges Violin Concertos, Vol. 2; Qian Zhou, Violin; Toronto Camerata; Kevin Mallon, Conductor; Naxos 8.557322 (2004)] Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges (1745-1799) is profiled at AfriClassical.com . To our knowledsge, the only budget CDs of his music are the two Naxos recordings of his Violin Concertos. ClassicsOnline.com is presently offering a Naxos MP3 download of three violin concertos, one each by Franz Berwald, Antonio Vivaldi and Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges for 6.99 US. We are delighted by this recognition for the Concerto No. 10 in G Major (24:07) of Saint-Georges. The work is drawn from Saint-Georges ... Read Full Story

[Angela Wellman, Trombonist, is Founder of Oakland Public Conservatory of Music, “The country's first Public Conservatory of Music”] “Oakland Conservatory youth musicians onstage Sunday” InsideBayArea.com By Angela Woodall Oakland Tribune Posted: 05/27/09 Updated: 05/28/09 “From Aaron Copland to Modest Mussorgsky, young Oakland musicians will take the stage Sunday at Skyline Community Church for an afternoon of works by innovative composers. The Oakland Public Conservatory of Music chamber orchestra and youth symphony also will perform selections from William Grant Still, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Florence Price and Amy Beach — composers whose musical vision transcended their 19th century lives. “ The event is a fundraiser for the ... Read Full Story

[James DePreist, Fanfare Magazine , November-December 1995 ] Huliq News “Joshua Roman Returns To Seattle Beloved Northwest conductor James DePreist will lead Seattle Symphony and former Seattle Symphony Principal Cellist Joshua Roman in the World Premiere of David Stock’s much-anticipated Cello Concerto on Thursday, May 28, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, May 30, at 8 p.m.; and Sunday, May 31, at 2 p.m. The program will also include Smetana’s vibrant Overture to The Bartered Bride and Rachmaninov’s Symphonic Dances. Sunday’s performance is a Musically Speaking concert and will include musical commentary from the podium. Smetana’s Overture will not be performed on Sunday. Audiences can also ... Read Full Story