CHARLESTON SC―Entering its ninth season (2021), the Colour of Music Black Classical Musicians’ Festival will honor Black History Month with a series of chamber presentations circling the globe showcasing the Festival’s unique versatility.
Unlike previous years, the Festival is adjusting to accommodate the uncertainty of COVID-19 and will present a series of virtual performances February 3-7, 2021 in many of Charleston’s landmark historic venues as well as a special presentation from Nashville, TN.
Staying true to the Festival’s mission of highlighting black classically trained artists and giving black composers a platform and focus, an array of canonized 
standard chamber repertoire from baroque, early classical to modern works by noted western composers along with a substantial segment of black female and male composers will be featured.
“We eagerly look forward to sharing and building upon our unique ability to pivot with the times and conditions now in our path. Although we will miss the in-person connection with our patrons, this year’s artistic offerings are sure to satisfy chamber music enthusiasts and the like,” says Festival’s founder and artistic director Lee Pringle.
2021 highlights will include chamber selections featuring octets, duos, and individual spotlights including Felix Mendelssohn’s Octet in E-flat Major for Strings, and inspired by Florence Price’s legacy and recent notoriety, rising female black composer Valerie Coleman’s work Umoja.
A special duo presentation will complete the musical circle with César Franck’s Sonata in A Major and Mozart’s Sonata in E Minor, k. 304 for violin and piano. Continuing the global tour, the Festival will also present a unique duo featuring violin and double bass of Astor Piazzolla’s Five Tango Sensations and Toshiro Mayuzumi’s Concertino for xylophone and piano.
