New York Hosts 4 Day Festival to Celebrate Julia Perry Centenary

To be held in March 2024, the festival will commemorate the rediscovered work of American composer Julia Perry

The Experiential Orchestra (EXO) and Videmus have come together to host a four-day Julia Perry Centenary Celebration and Festival. The festival will feature performances of Perry's work by PUBLIQuartet and the Harlem Chamber Players, as well as talks by Videmus director Dr. Louise Toppin.

A combined concert sees the Experiential Orchestra and youth ensembles led by EXO Music Director James Blachly perform Perry's music side by side. As part of this concert, violinist Curtis Stewart will perform Perry's Violin Concerto.

Born in Lexington, Kentucky, to an educated Black family, Julia Perry studied with Luigi Dallapiccola and Nadia Boulanger. She was well known in America in the mid-twentieth century, and much of her music reflected on the Civil Rights movement — especially her Symphony no. 5 "Integration" and Symphony no. 10 "Soul," which incorporated elements of Black popular music.

Many of Perry's compositions are sadly lost, since she held onto the manuscripts in hope of publication rather than donating them to an archive.

The Julia Perry Centenary Celebration and Festival will be held from March 13 to March 16, 2024, and more information is available here.