Music is the thread that weaves together the Black experience in America. The contributions of Black people to the canon of American music represent more than creative expression through sound. They are volumes of American history in their own right — art that reflects the unshakable will and resilience of a people who have defied the odds at every turn.
Before freedom came, Black Americans sang about their hope for it. And even without liberation, they proved their determination to survive so that future generations could experience the freedom they had been denied for centuries.
The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra will honor that legacy with Soul of a People: A Juneteenth Celebration of Black Music — a concert centered on the history, healing and hope that Black music has carried through generations. Conducted by Kevin McBeth and featuring vocalists LaKisha Jones and Ryan Shaw, the June 19 performance at Powell Hall will blend gospel, soul, R&B and pop classics. The music reflects nearly a century of Black creativity, backed by the full force of the SLSO and the IN UNISON Chorus.
For Jones, the invitation felt different from the symphonic shows she’s used to. “This one is more personal, because it’s celebrating us as a people,” she said. “To be able to do that with the symphony orchestra — and to sing the classics and the songs that we all know — is just a beautiful thing.”
McBeth said the program was designed to feel like a dance party as much as a tribute. “It’s a really feel-good concert,” he said. “We came to have a good time.”
The setlist includes Stevie Wonder’s “Signed, Sealed, Delivered,” backed by full orchestra — a sound McBeth said transforms the familiar into something electric. The program moves through Lionel Richie’s “All Night Long,” Kool & the Gang’s “Celebration,” and orchestral features including Stevie Wonder’s “Sir Duke.”
There will also be moments of reflection. The chorus will perform “A Change Is Gonna Come,” a song McBeth said “hits different” in 2026 than it did when Sam Cooke first recorded it. “That song was released at a time that is so much different from today, but also kind of similar,” McBeth said. “There are so many people who still identify with what Sam Cooke talks about when he was singing the song.”
Jones will bring her own history to the stage with “I’m Here” from The Color Purple. She performed in the musical alongside fellow Idol alum Fantasia on Broadway. “It’s such a meaningful song for the moment,” she said. “I absolutely want the spirit to move in the atmosphere.”
Jones and McBeth both spoke about the deep connection between Black music and Black freedom — a through line that makes this Juneteenth performance more than a concert.
“Music was a healing for us as a people,” Jones said, noting how hymns and spirituals carried enslaved Africans through the harshest conditions and how music continued to anchor the Civil Rights Movement. “To be able to do that on stage, and come together as one to celebrate us is a beautiful thing.”
McBeth echoed that sentiment, saying the program reflects the defiant idealism that has always lived inside Black music. “We sing when we have tragedy, we sing out of our defiance, and we sing to celebrate,” he said. “We use music in all areas of our lives.”
He added that presenting this music in a symphonic setting challenges assumptions about who orchestral music is for. “It’s our job to help people come up with a new narrative,” he said. “Come and experience it for yourself and realize that the heart of music for everybody comes from the same place.”
While Jones and Shaw are both known from national television — American Idol and America’s Got Talent, respectively — McBeth said St. Louis audiences are about to discover the depth of their artistry. “These are rock stars in their field,” he said. “They bring emotion, spirit, professionalism — and they can truly sing.”
Jones said she’s excited to share the stage with Shaw for the first time. “He is dynamic,” she said. “We have some duets in the show, and I’m excited to be sharing the stage with such a talented, blessed performer.”
While the SLSO has presented Juneteenth programs in partner churches for years, McBeth said this is the first time the orchestra is offering a Juneteenth concert of this scale inside Powell Hall. “We want this to be a destination event,” he said. “When 7:30 rolls around, we want this to be the event that’s on everybody’s minds.”
Jones said she hopes audiences leave with a deeper appreciation for the contributions of Black artists — and for the resilience behind the music. “I hope they leave enriched in their hearts and spirits,” she said. “We should be celebrated not one day, but every day.”
And for her, the night will feel like something familiar. “I feel like I’m going to have a family reunion,” she said. “I’m ready to celebrate us.”
Soul of a People: A Juneteenth Celebration of Black Music takes place Friday, June 19 at 7:30 p.m. at Powell Hall. The concert will feature the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, the IN UNISON Chorus, as well as guest vocalists LaKisha Jones and Ryan Shaw. For tickets and more information, visit www.slso.org
Living It content is produced with funding by the ARPA for the Arts grants program in partnership with the Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis and the Community Development Administration.
