Honoring Black composers

A concert honoring Black composers transformed into a life-changing event as the MSU Wind Symphony performed live at the Detroit School of Arts. “Music Honoring Black History Month with the MSU Wind Symphony” was streamed, posted, broadcast, and rebroadcast over multiple-channels, broadening the reach of the special event in early February.

Conceptualized by MSU Conductor and Director of Bands Kevin Sedatole, the event highlighted the influence and depth of Black composers in classical music. The special MSU concert featured living and historic composers, and was part of the College of Music’s growing outreach efforts in the City of Detroit. Viewed as an energetic start to Black History Month, the concert was attended by students, educators and patrons from the Detroit area, as well as faculty and supporters from MSU.

“This event was a wonderful way to honor excellent Black composers, and to showcase their works to the entire community,” said Sedatole. “We were pleased to work with our Detroit partners to put on an event that was both inspiring and educational, and touched the lives of students of all ages.”

 

MSU College of Music alumnus Damien Crutcher served as a guest conductor, and alternated with Sedatole and MSU Conductors Arris Golden and David Thornton at the podium. Crutcher is on the conducting faculty at Wayne State University and is a conductor with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. The Detroit native is intensely focused on musical education and opportunity for Detroit school-age children as an arts leader and advocate.

“I firmly believe that if kids see it, they can become it,” said Crutcher, managing director of Detroit Harmony and founder of Crescendo Detroit. “This concert was doubly impactful because they heard it, too. They saw me conducting. They saw extraordinary Black composers. They heard themselves and the culture in the music. That was huge.”

Crutcher remarked he had never seen a college wind symphony outside of those at Historically Black Colleges and Universities do an entire concert by Black composers, and he was excited to share the stage with two current-day composers featured in the program. Kevin Day and Omar Thomas attended and addressed the in-person and online crowd from the stage.

“These guys are rock stars,” said Crutcher. “Having them here and featured along with the other amazing composers shows a shift in classical repertoire, one in which music by Black composers is moving toward the center core of repertoire and not on the periphery. I am optimistic that it’s baked into the recipe now.”

DSA students Jauron Perry and William Hill III attended the concert and spoke in a radio interview with Peter Whorf of WRCJ 90.9FM. Perry plays trumpet and flugelhorn, Hill the piano. They said they see the value of observing skilled players perform classical repertoire by Black composers. Both students are in the midst of preparing for college and pursuing programs and environments – including the MSU Community Music School–Detroit – that encourage them to continue developing their artistry.

“Attending the concert was really soothing for me with everything going on today,” said Perry. “So many of my mentors and teachers were there, and I had an opportunity to network. I will always remember it.”

Hill said the pieces by Day and Thomas stood out to him as examples of modern-day classical music composed by African Americans. He was also inspired by the program that featured Black composers that spanned the 20th and 21st centuries. In addition, MSU composition and wind conducting doctoral candidate Henry Dorn transcribed one piece performed in the concert, further illustrating African-American talent in classical music and composition.

“We hear a lot about R&B and Rap, but it’s important that young African Americans acknowledge and research Black composers from the past and present day,” said Hill. “Scott Joplin and other Black composers made big contributions to music in America. What I heard on Sunday was very amazing.”

 

The concert program included American Fanfare by 1971 College of Music alumnus Adolphus Hailstork, Sweet Chariot by Carlos Simon, Negro Folk Symphony by William Dawson (arr. Henry Dorn), Combination March by Scott Joplin (arr. Gunther Schuller), Concerto for Wind Ensemble by Kevin Day, and Come Sunday by Omar Thomas. MSU Faculty who joined the Wind Symphony included brass musicians Justin Emerich, trumpet; Ava Ordman, trombone; Philip Sinder, tuba; and Corbin Wagner, horn.

MSU undergraduate Joel Kayser is a member of the MSU Wind Symphony and studies trumpet as a senior in music performance. He said the opportunity to participate in the concert reinforced his decision to make music his career, as well as his decision to attend MSU.

“In rehearsal, during the last movement of the Kevin Day Concerto for Wind Ensemble, everyone was putting so much heart and soul into their music that I actually started tearing up,” said Kayser. “I came to the realization that this is exactly where I want to be in life. The rehearsal reignited my love for music and music-making.”

“Music Honoring Black History Month with the MSU Wind Symphony” is representative of the growing College of Music outreach efforts in Detroit. Since the establishment of the MSU Community Music School–Detroit in 2009, the College and the Detroit Public Schools Community District have aligned on several project goals. The Pathways initiative through the Detroit School of Arts, for example, promotes youth arts and brings music to the community. Plans following this concert include workshops and master classes for DSA students taught by MSU faculty and students.

Detroit Public Television digitally broadcast the event for those unable to attend in person, while WRCJ 90.9 FM rebroadcast the event a week later as well as a pre-event interview with Damien Crutcher. Interlochen Radio, WCMU and K-Mozart in Los Angeles also rebroadcast the event. To watch the broadcast online, visit the MSU College of Music YouTube channel.