Celebrating Black History through Fine Arts

February 11, 2023

To honor the accomplishments and artistry of the Black student community at Jacksonville University, the Student Government Association partnered with the Linda Berry Stein College of Fine Arts and Humanities in hosting the second annual Celebrating Black History through Fine Arts Concert.  

Choreographers, composers, instrumentalists, poets, and vocalists presented a repertoire of their own, creative freedom being at the forefront of this year’s performance. 

“The general focus of the show is always to celebrate Black history through sharing all aspects of the Black experience. This is why I rarely request that a song or specific piece be in the show because the intention is to showcase student composers and performers, and what they’re passionate about,” said Sommer Kinsler ‘25, show director and SGA vice-president.

Vocal ensembles such as The Rivertones and Choral Union bookended the concert with classic jazz pieces composed by Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross, Nat King Cole, and Ella Fitzgerald, honoring the uniquely African American art form that emerged in the 19th century.

Dominique Gambrell ‘25 then followed with original spoken word pieces, Are We Still Caged Birds and Sounds of Sirens, two emotive and compelling accounts of the struggles that face the Black community. 

An unintentional inspiration for the concert was The Color Purple, a Pulitzer Prize winning novel and award-winning movie that tells the lives of two young Black women who experienced extraordinary adversity. Kinsler and Arrione Magee ‘24 sang “What About Love” from The Color Purple, and later Magee led a solo performance of “I’m Here.” 

“Unintentionally the show did feature two songs from the musical The Color Purple which allowed me to draw a sort of message from the show for those who were maybe searching for a clear theme, and that message is—while we strive to celebrate successes, it is worth remembering that out of pain comes a beauty and a strength that you’ve never known before,” Kinsler said.

Cellists, drummers, pianists, and violinists filled the second act alongside choreographers Chelsea Butler-Thomas ‘24 and Kamryn Dorsey ‘25. The percussion pieces were inspired by African rhythms and harmonies, while original works performed by cellist and composer Isaiah Jackson ‘25 moved the concert to a close, inspiring hope and unity.

“One of the biggest takeaways from this event is that anyone and everyone can and should celebrate Black History Month. The overarching goal is to highlight Black composers and art, but anyone can appreciate that, not just Black students,” Kinsler said. 

“It is our intention to celebrate Black art by uplifting student composers and choreographers as well as performers. However, more than just Black performers were onstage. I think it is important that everyone, Black or not, can appreciate Black artists and their art and the massive contributions they’ve made to society. One way of doing this was to include performers who are not Black and show ways to appreciate and participate in Black History Month in a respectful way.”

 

Watch the full recording of the 2023 Black History Month concert. 

Browse the full list of 2023 Black History Month events on campus.

 

2023 Black History Month Concert Program

 

ACT I 

Everybody’s Boppin’ arranged by Kirby Shaw

Composer/lyricist by John Carl Hendricks (1957-2017) 

When I Fall in Love arranged by Kirby Shaw

Composer. Victor Young, Edward Heyman, recorded by Nat King cole in 1956

The Rivertones, directed by Dina Barone

 

Are We Still Caged Birds

Spoken word 

Written and performed by Dominique Gambrell

 

What About Love from The Color Purple

Written by Stephen Bray, Brenda Russell, and Allee Willis

Performed by Arrione Magee and Sommer Kinsler 

 

Melody - Sheku Kanneh Mason

Performed by Isaiah Jackson on Cello

 

Happiness - Isaiah Jackson

Trinity Bryant - Piano

 

Strange written by Celeste Waite, Stephen Wrabel, and Jamie Hartman 

Performed by Julian Morris

 

ACT II

Dreamgirls from Dreamgirls  

Written by Henry Krieger

Performed by Arrione Magee, Ariana Fitzgerald, and Sommer Kinsler 

 

But We have X Instead of Y by Quinn Mason 

Chandler Bartley 

Bella Pantfoeder

Gavin Lleras 

Nathan Summers 

 

Sounds of Sirens

Spoken word

Written and performed by Dominique Gambrell 

 

Dance

Cornfield Chase by Hans Zimmer (living) 

Choreographed and performed by Chelsea Butler-Thomas and Kamryn Dorsey

 

Old MacDonald

Traditional Folk Song

As performed by Ella Fitzgerald

Roger Emerson, arranger (Living)

AJ Dionne, percussion

James Chang, pianist

Matthew Anderson, bass

Choral Union, directed by Dr. Julian Bryson

 

A Different Perspective - Isaiah Jackson

Sarah Iynna Spencer - Violin 1

Irsia Guzman - Violin 2

Ellison Whitehead - Viola 

Ian Rivera - Cello

Isaiah Jackson - Cello

 

I'm Here from The Color Purple 

Performed by Arrione Magee 

 

Photo credits: Taylor Sloan '26

Author

Jenna Blyler

jblyler@jacksonville.edu

All Stories

See All News