Unveiled Beats: Artists Bringing Music, Social Justice Awareness to the Forefront of the New Era
In a powerful testament to the transformative power of music, an upcoming concert at UCLA's Royce Hall is set to celebrate the tunes that challenged categories and pushed boundaries during the Civil Rights Movement. Entitled "The Gates of Justice," the concert will feature international stars, jazz royalty, and UCLA students performing brand-new works by Arturo O'Farrill and Diane White-Clayton, alongside anticipated world premieres.
One of the highlights of the event is Shyheim Hinnant's rendition of White-Clayton's "Dear Freedom Rider," a poignant piece written in a twelve-tone row that requires precision and attention to detail. Hinnant, a second-year master's student in voice performance, was invited to participate in the piece late last December. His lyrics for the song are derived from letters written to the Freedom Riders, making for a deeply personal and moving performance.
Hinnant views his presence as a queer Black man in the classical music world as a testament to breaking boundaries and normalizing diverse representation. He believes that music has the power to connect people, open minds, and evoke emotions beyond words.
Remy Ohara, a fourth-generation Hawaiian and second-year trumpet performance major, will perform David Brubeck's "The Gates of Justice." For Ohara, music holds a significant role in storytelling, citing a piece about the bombing of Pearl Harbor as a particularly impactful experience. He will also play the shofar solo in the introduction to the piece.
The concert also marks a personal milestone for Ohara, who finds personal significance in music that reflects his cultural heritage. He is currently taking an ethnomusicology class that discusses segregation in the early music industry, providing him with a deeper understanding of the historical role of music in the Civil Rights Movement.
"Music was not just an accompaniment but a transformative force in the Civil Rights Movement—functioning as a unifier, motivator, educational tool, and cultural beacon that helped shape the course of social justice history in America," said Ohara.
Both "The Gates of Justice" and White-Clayton's "Dear Freedom Rider" are calls for social justice, continuing the tradition of using music as a vehicle for change. UCLA students will perform alongside the Brubecks and India Carney, ensuring that the next generation of musicians carries on the legacy of music as a catalyst for social change.
The Gates of Justice concert is scheduled for Feb. 26 at Royce Hall, with repeat performances at Holman Methodist United Church on Feb. 28. This concert promises to be a powerful celebration of music's ability to bring people together, inspire change, and keep the spirit of the Civil Rights Movement alive.
[1] "Music and the Civil Rights Movement" by Charles H. Kaufman [2] "Sing for Freedom: The Story of the Civil Rights Movement Through Song" by Patricia H. Kerrigan [3] "This Little Light of Mine: The Life of Fannie Lou Hamer" by Kay Mills [4] "We Shall Overcome: The Story of a Song" by Alan Lomax [5] "The Music of the Civil Rights Movement: An Oral History" by Charles L. Hughes and Charles F. Howes Jr.
- Shyheim Hinnant, a second-year master's student in voice performance, is using his performance in "The Gates of Justice" concert as an opportunity to break boundaries and showcase education-and-self-development in the classical music world.
- Remy Ohara, a fourth-generation Hawaiian and second-year trumpet performance major, finds entertainment in music that reflects his cultural heritage and believes it has a role in educating and shaping society, just as it did during the Civil Rights Movement.
