Musical influences from his youth played into Damien Sneed’s newest recording, so it’s only fitting that he’ll be in his hometown to give “Our Song, Our Story” a first listen.
“I was inspired originally by Jessye Norman and her spirituals concert at Carnegie Hall,” said Sneed, an internationally renowned composer, arranger, producer, conductor, musician, arts educator, Dove and NAACP Image Award winner, who has worked with many legendary performers including Ms. Norman and Aretha Franklin.
“Our Song, Our Story” includes art songs, arias and gospel songs as well as pieces by Puccini, Gershwin and Aaron Copland; some of the songs included are ones he learned while a student at John S. Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School.
Four songs from the recording have already been released, but the full recording won’t be available until midnight June 6.
Sneed said he’d been waiting for Apple Music to release it and hoped it would’ve been out about a year ago.
“It’s interesting that it came out now. It’s perfect timing with what’s going on,” he said.
The free listening party will be at the Jessye Norman School of the Arts at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 5, and there will be a Q&A moderated by Gary Dennis, the school’s executive director.
The first week of June is a busy one for Sneed, who will be performing at Charleston’s Spoleto Festival at 9 p.m. Wednesday, June 4 at the College of Charleston Cistern Yard.
Trinidad-born trumpeter, composer, and storyteller Etienne Charles will present a program exploring the history and culture of the Gullah Geechee people. Sneed will play a Hammond B3 organ and conduct a choir.
And that’s just the start of a busy summer for Sneed, who is a tenured professor at Howard University and teaches at the Juilliard School. He has stops in Miami and Los Angeles, where he’ll be honored at the Ninth Annual Ovation Awards, before heading to Paris this summer where he’ll be teaching at France Summer Music YXIE.
Sneed is also putting the finishing touches on a concert t in Augusta in the fall, which he will be announcing soon. His foundation will have some special events planned near the holidays as well.
Another exciting development for Sneed is a Carnegie Hall date in February 2026 that was recently announced.
“Carnegie Hall approached me to do my own show. I came up with the concept, and they loved it,” he said. “I’m super excited about it. It’s one thing to perform at Carnegie Hall. I’ve conducted, played piano and I’ve sung there. I’ll get to do all of those things at one time.”
Scheduled for Feb. 13, Sneed and the Orchestra of Tomorrow will present” Revelation and Jubilation: A Symphony of Spirit.”
“Experience the power of music in a historic and soul-stirring performance that celebrates the freedom, unity, and boundless spirit of America,” according to the Carnegie Hall website.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for more than 35 years. She’s a Georgia Press Association winner and the recipient of the 2018 Greater Augusta Arts Council’s media award. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
