Co-hosted by Kevin Olusola (the cellist and beatboxer from the a cappella supergroup, Pentatonix) along with pianist Peter Dugan, this special program commemorates the holiday Juneteenth. We meet outstanding young Black musicians performing works by Black composers including music by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Sam Cooke, Florence Price, and an exciting new work by a teen composer. These excellent young players talk about what Juneteenth means to them and discuss the Black experience in classical music.
Juneteenth with From the Top: The Words and Music of America’s Youth
Violinist Hannah White, pianist Clifton Williams, and cellist Kevin Olusola
Playlist
Traditional (arr. Moses Hogan): “There is a Balm in Gilead”
Zanaiah Billups (18) and Sierra Hall (19) vocal soloists; The Davidson Chorale: Phillip Streetman, director
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor: Clarinet Quintet in F Sharp Minor, Op. 10, II: Larghetto affetuoso
Najee Greenlee, clarinet (18, Flint, Michigan); Aidan Krieger and Valerie Xu-Friedman, violins; Emma Boyd, viola, Gabriel Hennebury, cello [all teenagers studying at the Interlochen Arts Academy]
Ebun Oguntola (15, composer, Fayetteville, New York): “The Dimensions”
From the Top host Peter Dugan, piano; Charles Yang and Doori Na, violins
Thad Jones: “A Child is Born”
From the Top host Peter Dugan, piano
Florence Price: Adoration
Emma Spence, cello (12, Los Altos, California); Jeremy Lenk, piano
Sam Cooke (arr. Matt Jones): A Change is Gonna Come
Kevin Olusola, cello; Hannah White, violin; Clifton Williams, keyboard