Juneteenth program - NAAWS 2024

24

A Celebration of Freedom

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COMMUNITY SPONSORS

HISTORY OF NAAWS, INC.

The Nashville African American Wind Symphony (NAAWS), Inc., was founded on September 19, 2020, by Bruce V. Ayers, Jr. He was later joined by Tennessee State University music professor Ashley Crawford, who serves as the president of NAAWS, Inc. Originally, the organization was created as a community ensemble for musicians who graduated from a college or university but had the burning desire to make music in an ensemble setting again The vision inspired the creation of a Board of Directors, highly regarded in their respective fields, and NAAWS, Inc.’s founding members: Dr. Terrance Bankett (Administration), Rontrell Callahan (Assistant Director), Marissa King (Historian), Dr. Reginald McDonald (Chairman of the Board and Director), Alexandro Nichols (Assistant Director), and Stephanie Richardson (Director of Communications).

The original vision evolved from creating a community band to creating a vital cultural experience within the African American community and beyond. This led to the desire to establish a worldclass wind band ensemble that provides exceptional music education, training resources, and exposure to performing arts entertainment for young musicians Thus, the birth of NAAWS, Inc , was inspired by the need for more African American representation within the formal wind band community. Often in inner-city schools, particularly those with a high percentage of Black students, the emphasis is placed on joining the marching band. While this is not always the case, these students show less of an interest in the concert setting due to a severe lack of exposure, which leads to the inability to identify with the setting. NAAWS, Inc., aims to provide young musicians the opportunity to see themselves in the concert chair.

NAAWS, Inc ’s first downbeat was given on Sunday, September 19, 2021, at Tennessee State University. Since their first rehearsal, they have received recognition and support from the National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM), News Channel 5, WPLN, NPR, Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma National Honorary Band Fraternity and Sorority, Inc., the Relative Pitch podcast, and the NAACP.

The Nashville African American Wind Symphony, Inc., debuted on the Juneteenth holiday, June 19, 2022, in Belmont University’s McAfee Concert Hall. NAAWS, Inc., launched its Youth Initiative Program in 2022 with the inaugural performance of the NAAWS Youth Honor Band

To follow NAAWS, Inc.’s story, please visit www.naawsmusic.org and @naaws music on all social media platforms.

About Us

BRUCE V. AYERS JR.

Founder & Musical Director

Bruce V. Ayers, Jr. is a Professor of Music and an Instructor of Applied Euphonium at Tennessee State University He is also the founder, CEO and musical director of the Nashville African American Wind Symphony, Inc. (NAAWS). Before these roles, Ayers served as the Director of Bands at the GRAMMY® award-winning Pearl-Cohn Entertainment Magnet High School in Nashville, Tennessee.

Additionally, Ayers is a member of Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity, Inc , Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc , and an honorary member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Under his leadership, these organizations received three National Top Chapter Awards.

Ayers began his career in music education by obtaining his bachelor's degree in music education from Virginia State University and continued to receive his master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Music at Tennessee State University. He is currently pursuing his doctoral degree from Trevecca Nazarene University in Leadership, scheduled to be completed in June 2024

Bruce Ayers is a proud member of several organizations, including the Tennessee Music Educators Association, the National Association for Music Educators, the Conn-Selmer Institute, the National HBCU Band Director’s Consortium, the National Band Association, the Intercollegiate Music Association, Who’s Who in America, the NASPAAM, and the Tri-M Honor Society. He has made appearances as a guest euphonium soloist, pianist, wind band conductor, adjudicator, and music composer in various places including Alabama, the Bahamas, Canada, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia In addition, Ayers is a 2024 graduate of the Nashville Emerging Leaders (NEL) Cohort and a recipient of the Nashville Business Journal 40 Under 40 Award. He also served as an ambassador for the Honda Battle of the Bands.

Mistress of Ceremony

ASHANTI MASON-CHAMBERS

Ashanti Mason-Chambers, a Michigan native, is passionate about teaching and storytelling. Currently, she is completing her doctorate in Communication Media Studies while serving as a communication lecturer at Grambling State University in Grambling, Louisiana She is dedicated to igniting a passion for communication in the next generation. Ashanti's pursuit of creating engaging multimedia stories led her to Boston, Massachusetts, where she earned an M.F.A. in Visual Media Arts from Emerson College

Prior to living in Boston, Ashanti obtained a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from Tennessee State University. She is an expert in media production, public relations, and marketing Ashanti is also the owner of Otherisms Media Consulting Company Before moving to Louisiana, she served as the director of a fresh food program with From Your Father, a Christian non-profit organization, and as the Media Director for the Aristocrat of Bands while teaching at Tennessee State University

Out in the Fields

Special Guest

W. CRIMM SINGERS

Thomas Butler, collaborative pianist

Anyhow (Negro Spiritual)

You Must Have That True Religion (Negro Spiritual)

Robert J. Fryson Medley

Will Guy, collaborative pianist

Derrick Greene, DMA, percussionist

William L. Dawson

Evelyn Pittman

arr. Roland Carter

Robert J. Fryson

All in His Hands

Zacarra Heath, director

Patrick Dailey, founder and artistic director

Nicole Simone, associate director

V. Michael McKay

W. Crimm Singers Performers

SOPRANO

Siren Gatlin

Kyiara Jackson

Nicole Kendall

Sa’Mia Mosley

Tamica Nicole

Bakara Nkenge-Hinds + Ambrea Marie Styles

Koreen Thomas

Venita Williams

Sylvia Wynn ALTO

Kearsten Hatch

Zacarra Heath

Mariah Jenkins

Nicole Simone *

Stacy Subero +

TENORS

Eric Galvan

Cameron Jones

Cedric Townsend +

Jonathan-Newell Roberts

Cameron Keith Walls

BASS

Allen J. Christian +

Emanuelle Hudson ^

Timothy Hughes

Jorian Johnson

Chezarae Warren

Elvie Williams

* Associate Director

^ Assistant Director + Section Leader

• Leadership Team Member

The W. Crimm Singers are represented by Kellee Halford of L’Erin Greenfield Consultants, LLC

Nashville African American Wind Symphony, Inc.

Bruce V. Ayers Jr., Conductor

Program

Lift Every Voice and Sing

Music by J Rosamond Johnson (1873-1954)

Lyrics by James Weldon Johnson (1871-1938)

Arranged by Larry D. Jenkins (b. 1986)

Percussion by Derrick A. Greene Jr., DMA

First Suite in E-Flat

Cosmic Conquest

Air for Band

Dancing Fire

Wishes and Wantings

NAAWS Juneteenth Medley

Gustav Holst (1874-1935)

Cameron Jones (b. 2004) PREMIERE

Frank Erickson (b. 1923-1996)

INTERMISSION

Kevin Day (b. 1996)

Alexandro Nichols, conductor

Kelijah Dunton (b. 1999)

Rontrell Callahan, conductor

Amazing Grace

arr. Larry Jenkins and Cameron Jones

“At Last” - Sa'Mia Mosley, soloist

“What’s Going On?” - Emorja Roberson, soloist

“A Change Is Gonna Come” - Eric Galvan, soloist

“And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” - Tamica Nicole, soloist

William Himes (b. 1949)

The Nashville African American Wind Symphony, Inc.

Ensemble Members

FLUTE

Daynah Charlow

Ashley Crawford*

Jessica Rich

Sydney Verge

Mia-Lyn Wiley

OBOE

Zachary Horn*

CLARINET

Michelle Allen

Nia Blair

Alexis Carr

Bianca Hagg

Robyn Johnson

Jonquil Newsome

Victoria McDowell

Katiana Nicholson*

Kaliaha Patton

Roderick White*

BASS CLARINET

Kyia Jackson*

ALTO SAXOPHONE

Phillip Kigaita

Destin Miller*

TENOR SAXOPHONE

Roger Smith

BARITONE SAXOPHONE

Marissa King

BASSOON

Paris Lee*

FRENCH HORN

Michael Black

Kathryn Davis

Devyn Myles

Damien Tate*

TRUMPET

Johnny Croft

Elmer Feliciano

Terriana Holt

Crystal Howard*

Jonathon Neal

Cierra Streeter

Fredrick Weathersby

Dennis Williams

TROMBONE

Keeshaun Brown*

Robert Churchwell

Varney Greene

Tykeithan Phillips

Erica Nichols

EUPHONIUM

Bruce Ayers

Rontrell Callahan+*

Kendra Smith

TUBA

Nathan Cole

Bobby Johnson Jr.*

Keya Mabiala

Martin Turnley

STRING BASS

Chrishun Dorsey*

PERCUSSION

Evan Armstong

Quintin Burton

Terrance Bankett

Christopher DeBerry

Alicia Engram

Derrick Greene*

Alexandro Nichols+

Quentin Payne

+ Assistant Director

* Principal Chair

UPCOMING EVENTS

NASHVILLE’S JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION FIREWORKS

June 19, 2024 | 9 pm

Fort Negley Park

1100 Fort Negley Boulevard Nashville, TN, 37203

BIG BAND DANCES AT CENTENNIAL PARK

June 22, 2024 | 7:00 p.m.

Centennial Park

2500 W End Ave, Nashville, TN 37203

TREVECCA

NAZARENE UNIVERSITY ISLE CONCERT

June 29, 2024 | 4:00 pm Boone Business Center

333 Murfreesboro Pike, Nashville, TN 37210