MacPhail Presents: Black History Month Student Performance Festival
Black History Month Student Performance Festival
Celebrate Black History Month through music that uplifts, honors, and inspires. This special MacPhail Student Performance Festival features students of all ages, instruments, and programs performing works that celebrate the contributions of Black composers, artists, and musical traditions. Throughout the day, our downtown Minneapolis campus comes alive with performances that showcase learning, creativity, and community—reflecting the rich diversity of MacPhail’s students and the music that moves us all.
About the Performers:
JD Steele is the director of the MacPhail Community Youth Choir (MCYC) and teaches in the Partnership Program at MacPhail. Along with his siblings who compromise the Twin Cities dynamic vocal group, The Steeles, J.D. has garnered every major music award and accolade the state has to offer. He and his family began touring the international hit show “Gospel at Colonus” with Morgan Freeman around the world before landing on Broadway in 1988. He has also produced, performed and recorded seven Steele’s albums, and has gone on to write, produce and perform and record with Prince, Donald Fagen, George Clinton, Mavis Staples, Kim Carnes, The Sounds of Blackness and many other artists.
J.D. has also developed a choral group of 200 street kids at an orphanage in Nairobi, Kenya, called Shangilia. Since, they have performed in Nairobi, Europe and the United States. They were featured at the 2010 Flint Hills International Children’s Festival in St. Paul performing with MCYC.
Terrell X’avion / Terrell X has spent almost 30 years making music, motivational speaking, performing live as a one-man band, touring the world, and working with youth and adults from various socio-economic backgrounds. He possesses a knack for producing intense, thought-provoking music and establishing strong, healthy relationships. 16 years of teaching human beatboxing/vocal percussion, songwriting, and composing short stage plays have helped Terrell build an impressive artist resume that extends all the way to Europe (5 tours between 2011 and 2013) and Asia (toured in 2018). Terrell stands firm in his support and practice of positive self-expression and nurturing leadership skills building. He also speaks in favor of social justice, human rights, and advocacy for the lives and well-being of animals. Terrell encourages mentees to seek personal and artistic growth through education and music – just as he has done for himself. He emits heart-warming, down-to-earth energy when speaking on his experiences around living in poverty and surviving all forms of abuse – as well as growing up in the foster care system as a youth, in welcoming settings. Terrell’s professional services are highly-respected wherever they are implemented. MacPhail Center For Music, COMPAS, and SteppingStone Theatre employee contract and consistently contract home for instruction. Even though he plays over 100 live shows a year, Terrell still finds time to teach private lessons, book his own national tours, and be a father.
After moving to New York in 1990, Michael Cain became a first call pianist, working with drum legend Jack DeJohnette for nine years, as well as Dave Holland, Steps Ahead, Ravi Coltrane, Bobby McFerrin, Stanley Turrentine, Lauren Hill, Joshua Redman, Pat Metheny, Charles Neville, Christian McBride, John Scofield, Robin Eubanks, and Meshell N’degeocello, among others. Michael’s numerous awards include a 2006 Grammy nomination for Dance of the Infidel, Meshell N’degeocello’s release on which Michael is pianist and co-arranger. He has recorded several records as a leader including Circa, a 1996 ECM release which featured Ralph Alessi and Peter Epstein, and served as producer for several recordings including Ron Blake’s Shariya, and Brian Landrus’ Traverse and Capsule.
As an educator Michael has been a Professor at the Eastman School of Music, the New England Conservatory of Music, the University of Minnesota, and Brandon University in Brandon, MB, Canada.
The MacPhail Community Youth Choir (MCYC) brings together youth in grades 6-12 throughout the Twin Cities area for music and friendship. The choir is led by Twin Cities artist J.D. Steele, of the famous Steele Family, who brings his dynamic style and passion for music to the group, which is free and open to students of all skill levels and talents. This group of energetic young people performs many styles of music including jazz, gospel, pop and East African.