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VAHA Invites You to Celebrate Black Music Month and Juneteenth; There’s Still Time to Audition to Perform

May

25

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Tuesday, May 25, 2021 

A Message from Carmen Laguer Diaz and Lauren Thomas, Co-chairs of the Valencia African Heritage Association

The Valencia African Heritage Association (VAHA) invites you to celebrate Black Music Month 2021 (#BMM2021) and commemorate Juneteenth.

Black Music Month

Also known as African American Music Appreciation Month, Black Music Month is a monthlong celebration, which was first recognized by President Jimmy Carter on June 7, 1979, to celebrate the musical influences and contributions of African Americans in the United States throughout June. In 2000, President Bill Clinton signed the African American Music Bill, which formally established Black Music Month as a national observance and continues to be recognized each year through a presidential proclamation.

Juneteenth (June 19)

We invite you to learn about the historical significance and impact of Juneteenth, the oldest and most widely celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.

This year we have scheduled four events where we will celebrate Young Pioneers, Black Women, Soul and Gospel (Juneteenth), and Black Families in Music. There is still time to submit your musical audition to participate in the event. You can upload audition videos here. Although some entries may originally be intended for one category, some covers can fill multiple roles, so they will be used as needed for time and relevance.

Scroll down for a calendar of virtual events, all accessible via Zoom.

Week 1: Young Pioneers in Music
Date: Friday, June 4, 2021
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Zoom
Music Examples: Soulja Boy, Aaliyah, Lil Bow Wow, Usher, Brandy, Monica, Kirk Franklin
Submission Deadline: Friday, May 28, 2021

Week 2: Black Women in Music
Date: Friday, June 11, 2021
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Zoom
Music Examples: Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin, The Clark Sisters, Destiny’s Child,  Beyonce, Whitney Houston, Tina Turner, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Rihanna, Queen Latifah, Missy Elliott
Audition Submission Deadline: Friday, June 4, 2021

Week 3: Juneteenth
Music Genre: Soul and Gospel
Date: Friday, June 18, 2021
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Zoom
Audition Submission Deadline: Friday, June 11, 2021

Week 4: All In The Family
Date: June 25, 2021
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Zoom
Music examples: Jackson 5, Latoya Jackson, Janet Jackson, the Smith family (Will, Jayden, Willow and Jada), The Isley Brothers, Babyface, The Braxtons, The Debarge family, SWV, Sister Sledge, and K-Ci & JoJo.
Audition Submission Deadline: June 18, 2021

For questions, contact Danielle Strong-Robinson Smith, part-time faculty, English, at dstrongrobinson@valenciacollege.edu.

Related Tags: black music month, juneteenth, upcoming events, vaha