This year’s Martin Luther King Jr. weekend should be a special one.
It was announced today that in partnership with Richmond Symphony, local entrepreneur James Crump-Wallace is bringing a music showcase that will celebrate the rich musical heritage of Black cinema on Jan. 18, 2025 at the Dominion Energy Center. The concert, “Celebration of Black Music in Film” will feature the Richmond Symphony plus musical guests including Richmond’s own Butcher Brown and Naima Burrs. They will “transport audiences on a journey through classical arrangements of iconic soundtracks from films like ‘The Wiz,’ ‘Shaft,’ ‘Get Out,’ ‘Superfly,’ ‘Crooklyn,’ ‘Do The Right Thing,’ ‘Purple Rain,’ ‘Dream Girls,’ and many others,” according to the announcement.
“We’re excited to partner with Butcher Brown to elevate this event to new heights,” said Matt Wilshire, VP of Artistic Operations for the Richmond Symphony, in a press release. “Their unique blend of jazz, hip-hop, and funk will add a modern dimension to these classic soundtracks.”
“I wanted to take something that people already connect with—things that hold so much weight in Black culture—and present it in a place that is historically known for displaying the talents of the best of the best,” Crump-Wallace notes in the release. “’The Celebration of Black Music in Film’ will affirm Black art is, in fact, fine art.”
Crump-Wallace, who is known for co-founding the Secret Supper Society, notes in the announcement that he was “inspired by the success of tribute concerts performed by the Charlotte and National Symphony Orchestras.”
Guest conductor and Director of Orchestral Studies at Virginia State University, Naima Burrs, will lead the Symphony and said in the release: “I’m looking forward to highlighting some of the best musical scores written across a variety of genres, which have served as significant soundtracks for Black cinema. Many of these films reflect the power and beauty of the Black experience, sharing history and celebrating a shared identity. I hope that the audience will be excited to reminisce about what this music means to them. It’s a true celebration of Black culture and the impact that it has had on the world of arts and entertainment, and on the world.”
The “Celebration of Black Music in Film” tickets are now available for purchase online here, and at the Dominion Energy Center ticket office. For more information on the showcase, click here.
