Two exceptional local musicians are making waves, proving that classical music is a universal language that transcends racial boundaries.

Classical music is taking on a transformative dimension as pipe organist Wolff von Roos and pianist Teneh Karimeo are paving the way for a new generation of Black musicians in the classical world.

According to a 2023 study published by the League of American Orchestras, Black musicians only made up 2.4% of orchestra musicians nationwide.

Not only do these two musicians excel in their craft, but they are also driven to nurture the younger generation.

Karimeo and von Roos both actively advocate for a more diverse and inclusive classical music community.

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As we celebrate Juneteenth, many Americans are delving into its historical significance. Originating in Galveston, Texas, Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when some 2,000 Union soldiers brought news of freedom to more than 250,000 enslaved African Americans, nearly two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation.

The National Civil Rights Museum, which is located where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, stands as a symbol of the struggle for civil rights in America. From its historical roots in slavery to more recent movements for equality, the museum offers a comprehensive journey through the American Civil Rights movement.

Ryan Jones, Juneteenth program manager at the National Civil Rights Museum, emphasized the holiday’s significance in an interview with News 8.

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Arts with a Purpose at Eskenazi Health commemorated Black Music Month by using the arts to create positive change, social awareness, and inclusivity in the Circle City.

Music enthusiasts and professionals with Arts with A Purpose paid homage to rich African traditions that influenced jazz, hip-hop, R&B, and rock and roll. President Jimmy Carter established Black Music Month in 1979; the observance is reaffirmed annually by presidential proclamation.

African Americans have contributed a lot to the culture landscape of America and helped shaped the country, and influenced an entire world,” Bishop said.Each week this June, Black artists are featured performers at Eskenazi Health through the Marianne Tobias Music Program. It’s an effort to facilitate distraction from pain and reduce anxiety in patients.

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