Composer

Pianist

Kick off DPO’s dynamic 2025–26 season with Patchwork Nation, a powerful, uplifting concert that honors the vibrant diversity of American music—and celebrates our deep commitment to serving, honoring, and building community through music.

EPSG:4326

Patchwork Nation

Central Presbyterian Church Denver

Mapleton Arts Center

### Event Description: Juneteenth - Minnesota Orchestra

**Event Title:** Juneteenth with the Minnesota Orchestra

**Date & Time:** Thursday, June 19, 2025

**Venue:** Orchestra Hall, 1111 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55403

**Duration:** 2 hours, including intermission

**Event Overview:**
In celebration and remembrance of Juneteenth, the annual commemoration of the emancipation of enslaved African Americans, the Minnesota Orchestra, alongside guests and members of the Twin Cities community, will perform a program featuring music by African American composers. This special event aims to honor the historical significance of Juneteenth through a rich and diverse musical experience.

**Program:**
- **JOHNSON:** Victory Stride
- **WATKINS:** Soul of Remembrance, from Five Movements in Color
- **ABELS:** Delights and Dances
- **LEE:** Freedom’s Genuine Dawn
- **COLEMAN:** Umoja
- **SIMON:** Ring Shout, from Four Black American Dances

**Artists:**
- **Minnesota Orchestra:** The Grammy Award-winning Minnesota Orchestra, now in its second century, ranks among America’s top symphonic ensembles. The orchestra is known for its acclaimed performances, award-winning recordings, broadcasts, educational engagement programs, and a commitment to featuring works by composers of color.
- **Jonathan Taylor Rush, Conductor:** An accomplished and visionary conductor, Jonathan Taylor Rush's musical journey is rooted in his upbringing within the church, incorporating elements of gospel and soul music. He is a passionate advocate for living and underrepresented composers.

**Ticket Information:**
Tickets for this concert are available now when you purchase a package. Save up to 15% and receive subscriber perks when you buy 3 or more concerts. Individual tickets go on sale on July 29.

**Accessibility Services:**
- Armless & Bariatric Chairs
- Assistive Listening Devices
- Noise-Cancelling Headphones
- Service Animals
- Wheelchair & Accessible Seating
- Additional services are available upon request.

**Additional Information:**
Plan your visit to Orchestra Hall and subscribe for more updates and events. 

**Sponsored by:** [Sponsor Information]

Join us for an evening of powerful music and community as we celebrate Juneteenth with the Minnesota Orchestra.

Juneteenth

Minnesota Orchestra

This is a once in a lifetime concert celebrating the music and friendship of four pianist/composers whose work over 5 decades in Jazz, Classical, Gospel, Folk, New Age and Women’s Music includes appearances on over 400 albums (separately and together), Grammy nominations, Bammy Awards, and thousands of shows around the world. Their joint show will include solo, duo, trio and quartet performances of both beloved classics and new originals drawn from the newly-released CD’s by each artist. Their new 2025 albums are the duet album Hymns, Dreams, and Acts of Faith, by Mary Watkins and Tammy Lynne Hall (produced by Holly Near), Dreams by Barbara Higbie, Heart Flow by Tammy Lynne Hall and Take Now by Adrienne Torf (produced by Barbara Higbie.)

4 Pianists: Mary Watkins, Barbara Higbie, Tammy Lynne Hall, & Adrienne Torf

The Freight

Powerful Women

Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts

Encompassing different musical styles and genres from the African diaspora, Mary D. Watkins describes her Five Movements in Color as an “epochal painting or poem about our journey as a [Black] people in [the United States].” The heart wrenchingly beautiful second movement, “Soul of Remembrance”, was featured on LexPhil’s 2023/24 season finale concert.

Give Birth To The Dream

University of Kentucky

Dancing in September! Join us for a sensational season premiere showcasing the rich tapestry of cultural diversity in music. The title “Reflect, Renew, Reimagine” is not just a nod to sustainability and progress, but also an invitation to celebrate a more inclusive and sustainable world.

Reflect, Renew, Reimagine

Sculpture Park

Join the Lexington Philharmonic for an unforgettable season finale on Saturday, May 18, 2024, at 7:30 PM at the Singletary Center for the Arts, 405 Rose St, Lexington, KY. This powerful concert, under the baton of Music Director Mélisse Brunet, will feature the WORLD Premiere of "Two Black Churches" by Composer-in-Residence Shawn E. Okpebholo, a poignant work reflecting on the tragic racist attacks on the 16th Street Baptist Church and the Mother Emanuel AME Church. The evening will also include Mary D. Watkins' "Soul of Remembrance" and Camille Saint-Saëns' triumphant "Symphony No. 3," known as the Organ Symphony, showcasing the resonant power of the Singletary Center’s pipe organ.

Special guest artist, acclaimed baritone Will Liverman, will join the orchestra, bringing to life the emotional depth and historical significance of these works. The concert promises to be a moving tribute and a celebration of resilience and hope.

Tickets are available for adults from $28 to $78, with a special rate of $11 for youth 17 & under and students with valid ID, plus a $5 processing fee per adult-priced ticket. LexPhil Subscribers enjoy zero fees. The concert will last approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes, including a 20-minute intermission.

Don't miss the FREE pre-concert talk, "Inside the Score," at 6:30 PM in the Presidents Room, featuring insights from Mélisse Brunet, Shawn E. Okpebholo, and Will Liverman for an exclusive look into the music and stories behind the night's program. Seating is limited, so arrive early to secure your spot.

This event is presented with special thanks to the Saykaly Garbulinska Composer-in-Residence Fund and VisitLEX for their support. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the Lexington Philharmonic's website.

Two Black Churches: Okpebholo World Premiere

Have you ever heard a piece of music that inspired you? This program explores the idea that music—even with no words—can make a powerful statement. Featuring Beethoven’s Overture to Leonore and orchestrated pieces by 29:11 International Exchange, this program is sure to prove that musicians can be the world’s greatest change makers.

Music for a Better World

Pride Concert

San Francisco Conservatory of Music

This performance begins with an original multidisciplinary work by Interlochen Arts Academy students, followed by a side-by-side performance with NY Phil musicians including works by Valerie Coleman, John Wineglass, Jonathan Bailey Holland, and more. Leslie B. Dunner conducts.

Composer, Pianist

Mary Watkins

Events

Past events

17 - 18 Oct, 2025

Patchwork Nation · Denver Philharmonic Orchestra

Jun 19, 2025

Juneteenth · Minnesota Orchestra

About

Mary Watkins hasn't added a bio