MAYVILLE – On Saturday, Feb. 21, at 4 p.m., the Chautauqua Lake District Auditorium will come alive with How Sweet the Sound: A Celebration of Black Music in America.

The free event, in celebration of Black History Month, is open to the public. Presented by Emmy-award winning producer and New York Times bestselling author Kwame Alexander’s Big Sea Entertainment, in partnership with the literacy non-profit One Word at a Time, the Chautauqua Lake School District, and hosted by Cousin Sean, the new director of the African American Heritage House at Chautauqua Institution, the event brings together nationally recognized artists, poets, musicians, and students for an afternoon that blends spoken word, spirituals, gospel, blues, jazz, Broadway, soul, R&B, rock and roll, and hip hop, honoring both the roots and the ongoing evolution of Black music in America.

Featured artists include Maritri Garrett, acclaimed vocalist and pianist; Justin Bell, operatic tenor; Jordan Holmes, poet; D’Jena Kelly-Perry, actress; and Jillian Hanesworth, Poet Laureate Emeritus of Buffalo. The program also proudly features the Chautauqua Lake High School Choir and the State University at Fredonia Chamber Choir. There will be a special sculpture exhibition of black history, “An American Story” by Award winning artist, Dare Coulter.

Through live performances, poetry, and curated video moments featuring influential voices and artists, How Sweet the Sound traces the lineage of Black music, from spirituals sung in resilience and hope to the rhythms and styles that continue to influence contemporary music today. The evening concludes with a collective finale that invites performers and audience alike to reflect on the shared journey, endurance, and joy found through music.

“Black music is a part of America’s heartbeat–breathing freedom into a nation that didn’t always know how to listen. Every note is a memory, every rhythm a roadmap, reminding us that even in our deepest sorrow, we created songs strong enough to carry us–and this country–forward. I’m excited to help bring this program to a community that has welcomed me, inspired me, and fed my heart with so much happiness,” said Kwame Alexander, Distinguished Fellow, African American Heritage House at the Chautauqua Institution