Ahead of ‘Classical Roots’ Performance, DSO African American Fellows Talk POC in Classical Music

The DSO will perform its program honoring black composers, musicians, and educators on Friday at 10:45 a.m. and Saturday at 8 p.m.

Sydney Spaw/WDET

As the Detroit Symphony Orchestra prepares for its 41st annual Classical Roots Celebration, DSO musicians are reaching out to students in Detroit to promote involvement and appreciation for classical music.

Those musicians are flutist Adam Sadberry and trumpeter Michael Gause, the DSO’s African American fellows. 

They join Detroit Today with Stephen Henderson to talk about the concert, their paths to classical music, and their outreach efforts in Detroit schools.

Click on the audio player above to hear that conversation.

Classical Roots honors African-American composers, musicians, and educators for lifetime achievement and raises funds to support the DSO’s African-American music and musician development programs. This year, the DSO will honor renowned composer, conductor, and music educator Dr. Robert A. Harris and philanthropist Dr. William F. Pickard

Two Classical Roots performances in Orchestra Hall — on Friday, March 8 at 10:45 a.m. and Saturday, March 9 at 8 p.m. — will be conducted by André Raphel and feature soprano Jacqueline Echols and the Classical Roots Celebration Choir. The program includes several works by African-American composers.

The Saturday evening concert will be webcast for free at dso.org/live and via Facebook Live, as part of the DSO’s Live from Orchestra Hall series.

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  • Detroit Today
    Dynamic and diverse voices. News, politics, community and the issues that define our region. Hosted by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Stephen Henderson, Detroit Today brings you fresh and perceptive views weekdays at 9 am and 7 pm.