2023 Black History Month Speaker

Recently, we were thrilled to welcome guest artist Professor George Russell Jr., Chair of Harmony and Jazz Composition at Berklee College of Music to our all-school assembly! Mr. Russell, an accomplished pianist and educator, performed a mini-concert for us, and in between songs, spoke about how African-American artistry has impacted our country. We enjoyed his magnificent music-making—which included jazz standards, Negro spirituals, and gospel hymns—as well as his expertise on the history and intersection of these genres.

Mr. Russell also impressed upon our students the importance of their role as artists, saying: "I don't take being a music maker for granted. Whenever I have the opportunity to make music, I'm playing like it's the last time I'm ever going to play… It is such an honor to be an artist."

Thank you, Mr. Russell, for sharing your music and knowledge with us, and for taking the time to connect one-on-one with our students after the concert!