Marking 11 years with a month of special features!
This July we celebrated the Washington Revels Jubilee Voices’ 11th anniversary (on July 31), highlighting this dynamic ensemble on social media with blog posts, member spotlights, and more.
If you missed any of our posts, you can see all of those features below!
Support the ensemble’s ongoing work with a gift to the “Jubilee Voices Fund”:
Jubilee July Features
Blog: Freedom and the Fourth of July
We began the month with Associate Artistic Director Andrea Jones Blackford‘s blog post reflecting on the words of abolitionist, orator, reformer, and statesman Frederick Douglass as our nation marked a Fourth of July long ago. Andrea’s essay reminds us that while we continue to hope for the future, we must always be mindful of the past, along with the courage and resilience of those who worked for the cause of freedom and the work that lies ahead!
Spotlight: Performing at Arlington House
Founding ensemble member Gregory McGruder shares the experience of singing on the portico of Arlington House, home of Confederate general Robert E. Lee, which recently re-opened with exhibits remembering the lives of those enslaved there. Hear Greg’s story, and learn more about the new exhibits in this article from NPR.
Clip: “Daniel in the Lion’s Den”
Ensemble member Dr. Jackie Berry leads Jubilee Voices in this spiritual from Our People: A Juneteenth Story, a virtual Juneteenth celebration presented in partnership with the Alexandria Black History Museum and the Office of Historic Alexandria.
And, of course, if you missed Jubilee Voices’ full Juneteenth presentation, you can watch it here.
Clip: “James Harkless Birthday Tribute”
On July 11th, Jubilee Voices member Keith Moore organized a touching birthday tribute for founding member James Harkless, filled with speakers and singers from the Revels community, as well as some nationally renowned guests! We were delighted to share a few moments from this wonderful event honoring Jim during #JubileeJuly2021.