At the New York Philharmonic’s festival Afromodernism, Nathalie Joachim emphasizes the diversity within Black musical expression, stating, “We are not a monolith.” This highlights the broad range of cultural influences and styles including Haitian funeral brass bands, swing, and New York Minimalism that will be showcased, aiming to break the stereotype that limits Black music to a single narrative. Joachim’s approach aims not only to celebrate different musical forms but also to highlight the importance of visibility for Black artists within the classical music realm.
Carlos Simon seeks to challenge prevailing stereotypes about Black American culture with his new piece that incorporates various dance forms such as tap, holy dance, ring shout, and waltz. He commented, “There will be people in the audience who had no idea that Black people were doing a waltz,” reflecting on the unique historical contributions of affluent Black Americans in the 1930s who held debutante balls. Simon's work aims to educate and inform audiences about the richness of Black cultural expressions that have often been overlooked.
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