06/19/2026
Black musicians and composers have made monumental contributions to symphony history, breaking racial barriers in conducting, composing, and performing classical music. This Juneteenth, we want to highlight just a few of these pioneering figures.
William Grant Still (1895–1978): Known as the "Dean of African-American Composers," he was the first to have a symphony (his Afro-American Symphony in 1931) performed by a leading orchestra. He was also the first Black person to conduct a major American symphony orchestra (Los Angeles Philharmonic, 1936).
Florence Price (1887–1953): In 1933, she became the first African American woman to have a symphony (Symphony in E minor) played by a major orchestra, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges (1745–1799): An 18th-century composer who led Le Concert des Amateurs, one of Europe's top orchestras, and wrote symphonies and concertos.
Charles-Richard Lambert (died 1862): A conductor for the Philharmonic Society in New Orleans.
