Black History Spotlight

John Blanke was a black musician in London in the early 16th century.

Regarded as one of the leading artists of his generation, Darin Atwater is a composer, conductor, pianist, record producer, arranger, film composer, vocalist, and arts advocate.

Harry Lawrence Freeman was a pioneering composer, librettist, conductor, and teacher.

Hale smith was one America's finest composers who enjoyed a long and fruitful music career as an arranger, editor, pianist and educator.

Zenobia Powell Perry was an American pianist, teacher and composer. She wrote music for piano, chamber ensembles, an opera, orchestral works and symphonic wind ensembles.

Thomas "Blind Tom" Wiggins was the first African American musician to officially play at the White House. Wiggins was considered a musical genius; he could play difficult works by the likes of Bach and Chopin after hearing them a single time.

Francis "Frank" Johnson was a musician, composer, and bandleader. He composed over three hundred pieces of music. He was a renowned performer on the keyed bugle and violin, and performed for the queen of England in 1837.

Ignatius Sancho was a composer, actor, writer, and was the first known black man to vote in a British election.

Eva Jessye was first black woman to be internationally recognized as a professional choral conductor.

Nora Holt was the first black woman to earn a Masters degree in the United States. She was an accomplished composer, respected music critic, and famed singer.