About this Event
RITZ CHAMBER PLAYERS
Juneteenth Celebration: Free at Last? The Evolution of the American Spiritual
Saturday, June 20, 2026 | 7:30 PM Performance
From struggle came song. From song came strength. From strength came freedom — and the courage to keep reaching for it.
Join the Ritz Chamber Players for a Juneteenth celebration honoring the African American Spiritual: where it began, what it carried, and why it still matters.
This year, the evening reaches a new height. We are honored to welcome Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole — former president of Spelman and Bennett Colleges, Director Emerita of the Smithsonian's National Museum of African Art, and one of the most distinguished cultural and intellectual voices in America — as narrator for this historic performance.
Dr. Cole will guide audiences through the sacred arc of the Spiritual, from its origins in the fields of bondage to its transformation into the freedom anthems of the Civil Rights Movement — music that did not just accompany history, but helped make it.
Featuring acclaimed artists Alison Buchanan, Ann Marie McPhail, and Robert Sims.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Terry Concert Hall, Dolphin Drive, Jacksonville, United States
USD 0.00 to USD 7.18
