Music and Museum: African Voices

Sunday, March 22

Pre-Performance: JBT Quartet (5 – 5:45 PM)

Bechtler Ensemble Concert (6 – 7 PM)

In celebration of the exhibition David McGee: The Griot and the Nightingale, this expressive Music and Museum program features a string quartet performance that honors African and African American musical voices.

The evening opens with pioneering composer Florence B. Price’s heartfelt Adoration, followed by Ugandan composer Justinian Tamusuza’s vibrant “New African Music Project,” which blends traditional East African rhythms with contemporary classical language.

The program also features the Lyric Quartette by William Grant Still, often called the “Dean of African American Composers,” and Fantasiestücke by British composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, whose romantic style and cultural heritage shaped his powerful voice in chamber music.

This concert complements McGee’s exploration of narrative, memory, and identity through a celebration of Black cultural legacies in both visual and musical form.

Pre-Show Performance

Enjoy two concerts for the price of one! Your ticket also includes a dynamic performance by the JBT Quartet performing from 5 PM to 5:45 PM. These talented young musicians explore the boundaries of contemporary jazz, and your attendance helps support the next generation of local artists. They'll kick off the evening with a vibrant, soulful set before the Bechtler Ensemble takes the stage at 6 PM.

TICKETS: Concert tickets are $25 for members, $30 for nonmembers, and $5 for students (with proof of ID). FREE tickets for ages 10 and under. Advance registration is required to guarantee seating.