Spirituals, Rags and Strings

In 1892, H.T. Burleigh became one of the first African-American students admitted into the National Conservatory of Music in New York City. The spirituals he sang inspired the Conservatory’s visiting director, Antonín Dvorák, to write several masterpieces based on American themes, and to envision a rich and unique future for American music.
Now, the Brooklyn Philharmonic, in partnership with the Brooklyn Public Library, team up with poet Tyehimba Jess in a
concert that imagines these artists’ lives and stories, spinning out the legacy of this first link between African-American
music and the symphonic tradition. This event is FREE and open to the public! For details call 718-488-5700 or email marketing@bphil.org.