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Juneteenth has long been celebrated in Black communities to remember June 19, 1865, the day that enslaved African Americans in Texas learned they were free. 

After becoming a federal holiday in 2021, broader community celebrations began in cities around the country, including the Minnesota Orchestra’s annual Juneteenth concert at Orchestra Hall in downtown Minneapolis. 

Coming up at 9 a.m. on Thursday, MPR News host Angela Davis talks with the guest conductor of the Juneteenth concert and one of its organizers about the contributions of Black American composers and how classical music is being shaped by Black American music traditions, including gospel, jazz and the blues. 

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Black American composers are at the heart of the Minnesota Orchestra’s Juneteenth holiday concert. Coming up at 9 a.m. on Thursday, MPR News host Angela Davis talks with the guest conductor about how African American music is expanding the classical tradition. 

smiling Black man in long hair, glasses and a blue top conducts violinists in orchestra 

Marking Juneteenth with the Minnesota Orchestra

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