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The Harlem Chamber Players, in partnership with the Leonard Davis Center for the Performing Arts and in association with the Harlem School of the Arts, will present their 18th Annual Black History Month Celebration, American Landscapes, on Thursday, February 5, 2026 at 7:00 PM at Aaron Davis Hall, located at 129 Convent Avenue, New York, NY 10027. Free and open to the public with registration, the concert is presented as part of the nationwide America 250 celebration.
Led by Pulitzer Prize–winning composer, conductor, and Kennedy Center Honoree Tania León serving as Music Director and Conductor, this special evening will showcase music for string orchestra by living American composers from across traditions, backgrounds, cultures and lived experiences, whose work has helped shape and expand the canon of American classical music. The program will open with the renowned Black composer Adolphus Hailstork’s Sonata da Chiesa, followed by Shuo from the Chinese-American composer Chen Yi. The concert will also feature the world premiere of a new work for string nonet with soloists by Venezuelan-American composer, violinist, and trombonist Eddie Venegas, who will perform as soloist.
The program will culminate with The People Could Fly by composer Trevor Weston, a powerful work for narrator, solo violin, and string orchestra inspired by the African American folk tale of the same name. Narrated by WQXR’s Terrance McKnight, the piece will feature Josh Henderson as solo violinist. Dancers from the Harlem School of the Arts will join the performance, with choreography by Leyland Simmons, bringing the final work to life through music and movement.
“As the nation prepares to celebrate America 250, this program reflects the dynamic exchange of cultures that defines American music,” said Liz Player, Executive and Artistic Director of the Harlem Chamber Players. “Now in its 18th year, this Black History Month concert has become a staple in our community, and presenting ‘American Landscapes’ allows us to honor Black artistic brilliance and the contributions of Black composers while also celebrating the diverse voices shaping the American sound today.”
“This concert is a celebration of composers whose work has shaped – and continues to shape -the American music landscape. These artists bring with them deep histories, multiple traditions, and a breadth of musical languages that reflect who we are as a people,” said León. “I am proud to collaborate with The Harlem Chamber Players to bring this music to life with intention, care, excellence, and a shared commitment to honoring these composers and their enduring contributions.”
“The Harlem Chamber Players’ Annual Black History Month Celebration is always a great gathering of friends and musicians. It’s a space where community comes together through the power of music, and where we get to explore a world of sound that celebrates and extends the Black diasporic experience,” said McKnight. “Each year, this program creates an opportunity to connect people through shared stories, history, and artistry, and I’m excited to once again share this program with our audience.”
Founded to expand access to classical music, The Harlem Chamber Players, Inc. is an ethnically diverse collective of professional musicians dedicated to presenting high-caliber, affordable, and accessible live classical music in Harlem and beyond. Through performance, education, and community partnerships, the organization champions inclusion, diversity, and equity in the arts while creating opportunities for classically trained musicians of color and building new audiences for live classical music.
The City College Center for the Arts serves as a cultural hub that builds a sense of community both within the school and its surrounding neighborhood, while inspiring creativity and diversity. It also provides a premier venue for local and national performers and for art patrons in the tri-state area.
This event will be free and open to the public. RSVP is required. For additional information, please visit www.HarlemChamberPlayers.org.
