The National Museum of African American History and Culture is proud to host two extraordinary musical programs that highlight talented youth and uncover the history of overlooked African American classical artists.  

Shared Voices, a program of the Denyce Graves Foundation, is a collaboration between HBCUs and top schools of music that promotes equity and inclusion in American classical vocal arts by championing the hidden musical figures of the past while uplifting diverse young artists. This year’s students, from eight outstanding academic institutions, will present their capstone projects in the Museum’s Heritage Hall. 
 
The United States Navy Band, formed in 1925, is the premier musical organization of the U.S. Navy. As part of its mission to encourage young musicians, the United States Navy Band inaugurated the Alton Augustus Adams Sr. Award for Emerging Composers. Adams was the first African American Bandleader in the US Navy. 

In 2022, the inaugural award was presented to Jaylin Vinson of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, for his chamber work “Afrophilia” which will be played by the United States Navy Band’s Woodwind Quintet.