UMD Symphony Orchestra: Still's Symphony No. 1 "Afro-American"

• Robert Rocheteau, marimba
• David Neely, conductor

The UMD Symphony Orchestra opens its 2024-25 season with William Grant Still’s Symphony No. 1, "Afro-American," the first symphony composed by an African American to be performed by a major orchestra when it premiered in 1931. This remarkable piece is a love letter to blues and Black culture, showcasing Still's vision to elevate the blues, which he felt was often considered a "lowly" expression, to the highest musical level. By masterfully integrating blues progressions and rhythms with traditional symphonic forms, Still created a symphony that resonates with profound emotion and cultural significance.

Also on the program are Hector Berlioz's Le carnaval romain ("Roman Carnival Overture"), a rip-roaring overture synthesized from a short-lived opera based on the life of Renaissance artist Benvenuto Cellini, and Emmanuel Séjourné's Concerto for Marimba and Strings, an energetic two-movement work featuring the School of Music's 2023 Concerto Competition Winner Robert Rocheteau D.M.A. ‘24.

About University of Maryland (UMD) Symphony Orchestra

Through its committed and polished performances under the baton of David Neely, UMSO is dedicated to the power of musical communication. In its repertoire, the orchestra explores the intersection between traditional symphonic masterworks and marginalized works from various eras, with many programs featuring composers of diverse backgrounds.

About Robert Rocheteau, marimba

https://www.robertrocheteau.com/

About David Neely, conductor

https://music.umd.edu/directory/david-neely