Juneteenth LP (Juneteenth Legacy Project) is a musical collaborative of Black classically trained musicians who are continually pushing boundaries by bringing together unexpected classical music by Black classical composers and brilliantly crafted pop arrangements for a refreshing take on the live music experience. The Juneteenth Annual Celebration event at Joe's Pub was born not only out of the desire to celebrate Freedom Day, but also to introduce audiences to the often under-represented repertoire of the Black Diaspora.

The significance of such a concert on this date is profound. On June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas, Union Army General Gordon Granger stood on the balcony of the Ashton Villa and read General Order No. 3 announcing the complete emancipation of slaves as articulated in the Emancipation Proclamation. His reading of the order, buttressed by the presence of a few thousand Union soldiers, announced and guaranteed the freedom of every slave. Juneteenth is first and foremost a celebration of freedom, but in the case of this particular Juneteenth concert, it is a celebration specifically of what Black musicians did and continue to do with that freedom. We celebrate and honor the women and men from then to now, who against all odds chose a life of creativity in music by picking up a violin, a conductor’s baton, or a composer’s pen. Juneteenth LP’s events always feature the music of the Black Diaspora, but also sometimes the music of other cultural traditions that speaking to them; but most importantly, their events are a joyful fête. Come join us.

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Photo credit: Jelani Thompson