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St. Louis Symphony Orchestra’s Soul of a People Delivers Powerful Juneteenth Celebration

By Eric Dundon

The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra continued its tradition of commemorating the Juneteenth holiday with Soul of a People: A Juneteenth Celebration of Black Music, an evening honoring Black Music Month and Juneteenth through beloved songs spanning gospel, soul, R&B, and pop. The June 19 concert, led by conductor Kevin McBeth, featured acclaimed vocalists LaKisha Jones and Ryan Shaw alongside the orchestra and St. Louis Symphony IN UNISON Chorus, celebrating the enduring influence of Black artists on American music.

The audience embraced favorites including “Respect,” “A Change Is Gonna Come,” “Lovely Day,” “I Wanna Dance with Somebody,” “All Night Long,” and the concert’s rousing finale, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.”

Photos by Justin Staggs

LaKisha Jones and Ryan Shaw were the featured vocalists. Each brought a pedigree of success in television singing competitions.
Powell Hall was bathed in sumptuous lighting while Ryan Shaw performed Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come.”
The IN UNISON Young Artists received a standing ovation for their heartfelt interpretation of “Stand By Me,” the Ben E. King song.
Patrons gather on the John Bachmann Plaza outside of the Jack C. Taylor Music Center.
Kevin McBeth, conductor and director of the St. Louis Symphony IN UNISON Chorus, invited audiences to enjoy the evening in an authentic way while reminding the SLSO is “on the frontlines when it comes to diversity and inclusion.”
Patrons gathered for After Party, an opportunity to mingle with other guests and artists following select concerts.
The orchestra and was joined by Shaw and the IN UNISON Chorus, one of two resident SLSO choruses, for “Man in the Mirror,” famously performed by Michael Jackson.
Jones sings “I’m Coming Out,” made famous by Diana Ross.
Jones and Shaw pose with a guest following the concert.
The Snøhetta-designed architecture is reflected in the glass of the Berges Family Foundation Lobby.
An emotional highlight of the evening, Jones received a standing ovation following “I’m Here,” the stirring song from “The Color Purple,” originally adapted from the Pulitzer Prize-winning book of the same name by Alice Walker.

The performance earned enthusiastic praise from Kenya Vaughn of the St. Louis American, who wrote that the concert “honor[ed] the soul of a people” while capturing the spirit of Juneteenth through music that reflected freedom, resilience, and unity. Vaughn highlighted the emotional impact of LaKisha Jones’ performance of “I’m Here” from The Color Purple, noting how a subtle lyric change underscored the evening’s central message of collective celebration—changing “I am beautiful” to “We are beautiful.” She also praised Kevin McBeth’s leadership, the artistry of Ryan Shaw, and the powerful contributions of the IN UNISON Chorus, describing the performance as one that invited audiences to celebrate not only Black musical excellence but the shared history and joy it represents.

Soul of a People celebrated the cultural legacy, resilience, and joy embodied in Black music while underscoring the SLSO’s ongoing commitment to presenting programs that bring communities together through shared musical experiences.

Eric Dundon is the SLSO’s Public Relations Director.

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