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Marching to the Rhythms of History: The Julia Perry Centenary Celebration and Festival Honoring a Musical Trailblazer
December 16, 2023

Scheduled for March 2024, the festival aims to honor the recently rediscovered works of American composer Julia Perry. The Experiential Orchestra (EXO) and Videmus have collaborated to organize a four-day Julia Perry Centenary Celebration and Festival. During the event, there will be performances of Perry's compositions by PUBLIQuartet and the Harlem Chamber Players, along with presentations by Videmus director Dr. Louise Toppin.

The festival's program includes a joint concert where the Experiential Orchestra and youth ensembles under the direction of EXO Music Director James Blachly will perform Perry's music side by side. Notably, violinist Curtis Stewart will showcase Perry's Violin Concerto during this concert.

Julia Perry, who originated from Lexington, Kentucky, and belonged to an educated Black family, received training from Luigi Dallapiccola and Nadia Boulanger. A prominent figure in mid-twentieth-century America, much of Perry's musical works were inspired by the Civil Rights movement, particularly evident in her Symphony No. 5 "Integration" and Symphony No. 10 "Soul," which incorporated elements of Black popular music.

Unfortunately, many of Perry's compositions have been lost over time, as she chose to retain the manuscripts with the hope of eventual publication rather than donating them to an archive.

The Julia Perry Centenary Celebration and Festival are scheduled to take place from March 13 to March 16, 2024. Additional information about the event can be found here.

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