Music of a Movement’s program is curated by New Orleans native and three-time “Top 5” Billboard Chart topping artist Diedra “Deepa Soul” Meredith, also featuring her in performance alongside her band, The Love Soul Orchestra under the musical direction of Donald Ramsey. This concert performance with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra will be led with the baton of emerging young conductor Jonathan Taylor Rush.
The Love Soul Orchestra include: the members of Nu Beginnings (Melaney Batiste, Jai Reed and Erica Falls), Kenny Brown, Kendrick Marshall, Jermal Watson, George Brown, Chris Cotton, Nicholas Harrison, Donald Surtain Jr., Marjorie Garnier, and Malcom Parson. This inaugural event will also include a host of cameo performances by the people’s poet Sunni Patterson, Casme Carter, Darrius Deezle Harrison, Mikhala Iversen, The New Orleans Mystics and more!
The LPO, currently under the baton of its first African American conductor since the 1950s, Jonathan Taylor Rush, draws on a rich history that dates back to the early 19th century. The first iteration of the orchestra, the Philharmonic Society of New Orleans, was founded by Free People of Color. This pioneering group boasted over 100 instrumentalists and was one of the first racially integrated orchestras in the antebellum South. This incredible history of inclusivity and excellence continues to inspire the LPO today.
Many in New Orleans may not yet be familiar with Diedra “Deepa Soul” Meredith, who has spent much of her career in New York City and Los Angeles. A graduate of St. Mary’s Academy, Dee was a talented trombone player and vocalist in her youth. She rose to prominence in the music industry as a Billboard Dance/Club/EDM chart-topping house music vocalist, produced by NYC club icon Junior Vasquez on Nervous Records.
In addition to her musical achievements, Dee is a dedicated social justice community activist. She leads The Love Soul Orchestra, a band featuring a nearly entirely Black roster of musicians, many of whom are women. This Juneteenth, Dee and her orchestra will join forces with the LPO, promising a performance that is both musically and culturally resonant.
This Juneteenth concert is more than just a musical performance; it is a historical and cultural event that underscores the importance of Black music in American history. It highlights the role of music in galvanizing the Civil Rights Movement and celebrates the ongoing contributions of African American artists.
The concert is presented in partnership with Tremé For Tremé, the New Orleans African American Museum, and the New Orleans Legacy Project. Together, these organizations are dedicated to preserving and promoting the rich cultural heritage of New Orleans.
Tickets for the concert are now on sale and range from $10 for children and students to $55 for adults. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.LPOMUSIC.com or contact Patron Services at 504-523-6530.
