This Sunday, the Nashville African American Wind Symphony, a 146-member nonprofit ensemble that centers Black voices in classical and symphonic music, will play its fifth annual Juneteenth concert at the Schermerhorn. Over the same weekend, the group will appear at Juneteenth615’s fireworks celebration in Centennial Park next Friday, and the NAAWS Big Band will guest for the park’s weekly Big Band Dance next Saturday night. The run of shows highlights how quickly the ensemble has become a fixture on Nashville’s summer music calendar.
“We’ve been dedicated since the beginning to making sure that there’s recognition for and awareness of Black voices within the classical world,” said Kendra Smith, NAAWS’s director of operations and a euphonium player, in an interview with Nashville Scene. Her remark neatly sums up the ensemble’s public mission as it heads into a packed weekend of community and concert-hall appearances.
Roots and leadership
Dr. Bruce V. Ayers Jr. founded NAAWS in 2020, and the organization now lists itself as a 46-member, 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a mission to elevate diverse voices in symphonic music. According to NAAWS, Ayers serves as founder and CEO, while Associate Music Director Alex Nichols and Assistant Music Director Rontrell Callahan round out the artistic leadership. That team gives the group the flexibility to move between standard classical repertoire and programs rooted in Black musical traditions.
Building a pipeline
The NAAWS Youth Honor Band, which began in 2022, brings gifted middle and high school students together for master classes and mentorship, according to Nashville Scene. Assistant director Rontrell Callahan directs the youth initiative and says connecting students with professional players is central to the group’s education goals.
Where to catch them
NAAWS’s fifth-annual Juneteenth concert is scheduled for this Sunday at the Schermerhorn; the event appears on the Nashville Symphony calendar. For larger community gatherings, the ensemble will perform as part of Juneteenth615’s fireworks presentation at Centennial Park next Friday, and the NAAWS Big Band will play the park bandshell for the Big Band Dance next Saturday from 7 to 10 p.m., per the city’s Metro Parks listings. Park events are free and family friendly, while the Schermerhorn concert offers a program rooted in Black musical traditions.
As the group moves between concert hall and community stage, NAAWS frames its work around education and representation, writing that it aims to “Educate, Perform, Inspire, Create, Cultivate Change” on its website. For a relatively young organization, those twin missions have helped turn a local wind symphony into a growing cultural institution in Music City, according to NAAWS.
