Celebrate Black History Month with classical music

YourClassical presents music from diverse sources 24/7, year-round. For Black History Month, in addition to this regular programming, we’re paying tribute to the essential music of great Black composers and performers with the special content listed and linked below. Come celebrate with us throughout February!

Black History Month stream

Throughout February, the Black History Month stream is available 24/7 on our website, app and listening platforms such as TuneIn and I Heart Radio, which also can be heard on smart speakers.

Special broadcasts

These special programs can be heard on our regional YourClassical MPR broadcasts, with many available as simulcasts nationally on YourClassical Radio, on the following dates. Listen online using this player at the times listed below. All times listed are central.

YourClassical Discoveries

Feb. 4, 4-7 p.m. — Host Mindy Ratner presents three hours of the best of Black artists and composers to kick off the month.

SPCO Spotlight

The St. Paul Chamber Orchestra performs music by Black composers. YourClassical MPR only

Feb. 3, 9 a.m. — Coleridge Taylor Perkinson’s Sinfonietta No. 1 for Strings (recorded Oct. 22, 2022)

Feb. 10, 9 a.m. — Xavier Foley’s For Justice and Peace, featuring violinist Eunice Kim and double bassist Xavier Foley (recorded Jan. 15, 2022)

Feb. 24, 9 a.m. — Valerie Coleman’s Umoja (recorded Sept. 18, 2021)

Minnesota Orchestra

Feb. 28, 7-9 p.m. — In this Oct. 7, 2022, concert for the Listening Project, the Minnesota Orchestra spotlights the music of historically underrepresented composers. Conducted by Kensho Watanabe and presented by scholar Louise Toppin, the performance includes Eleanor Alberga’s The Soul’s Expression and Margaret Bonds’ Spirituals, both of which feature bass-baritone Christopher Humbert Jr. as soloist.

10 Days of Black Artists Making History Today

History is important, but we’re also celebrating living Black artists who are making an impact in classical music now. Their music will be featured in special playlists at 6 a.m., noon and 6 p.m. on the following dates.

Feb. 13 — Jessie Montgomery

Feb. 14 — Lara Downes

Feb. 15 — Adolphus Hailstork

Feb. 16 — Anthony McGill

Feb. 17 — Carlos Simon

Feb. 20 — Randall Goosby

Feb. 21 — Will Liverman

Feb. 22 — Valerie Coleman

Feb. 23 — Awadagin Pratt

Feb. 24 — James Lee III

Pipedreams

The national program Pipedreams, which celebrates music for the pipe organ, will celebrate Black History Month with two programs in February. They can be heard online starting on the date listed and broadcast by YourClassical MPR at 6 a.m. the following Sunday.

Feb. 12 — Hearing Color: Expanding our repertoire with works by Black artists composers and performers.

Feb. 20 — Embracing Black & White: Bridging differences of style and culture, music makes the world a bigger place.

In addition, listen to these relevant archived Pipedreams episodes and explore related content:

African-American Organ Composers, an overview by Mickey Thomas Terry

In Black & White (Feb. 5, 2001)

More Than Just Black & White (Feb. 15, 2021)

Digital content

In addition to our on-air programming, the following digital content is available to help you celebrate and explore the music of Black composers and performers.

Rhapsody in Black — A podcast that offers an ecstatic exploration of classical music that’s aesthetically and uncompromisingly Black, with host Vernon Neal.

Black History Spotlight — Short audio programs and related content about Black music pioneers.

Justin Holland: The Guitar's Black Pioneer — An hourlong program about one of the best guitar virtuosos of the 19th century, who lived right here in the United States.

Scholar Philip Ewell aims to bring light to "the dark room" of classical music — "Classical music has a problem with race," Philip Ewell says. The New York City associate music professor speaks widely on that topic and what it means for classical music in the future.

Listening Lesson: Music featuring Black Musicians — Black musicians have shaped and defined every aspect of American music. This listening lesson offers a small starting place to investigate some notable Black performers and composers for Grades K-8.

Celebrating Juneteenth and Black Music Month with classical classics — As part of an ongoing series, NPR's Rachel Martin talks to pianist Lara Downes about classical recordings of "Lift Every Voice" and "A Change Is Gonna Come," to mark Black Music Month and Juneteenth.