February 14, 2023

Meet the leaders of the BSU! Manhattan School of Music’s annual Black History Month Concert is presented by MSM’s Black Student Union on Wednesday, February 15 at 7:30 PM in Neidorff Karpati Hall.

We spoke with BSU President, Jaydon T. Beleford (BM ’23) and Vice President, Erika Johnson (MM ’23) about the upcoming concert and why the BSU at MSM is important

Tell us about the Black History Month Concert! Why should people come and see this performance?

Jaydon: The Black History Month Concert is always a beautiful and celebratory event. It’s so much fun! This year’s concert will once again bring to light the brilliance and joy of Black culture. This year, we were inspired by the stand-out artist and flutist, Lizzo. Before one of her concerts, she openly spoke about why she performs and who she performs for. Paraphrasing her speech, she spoke on how she is a Black woman who makes music inspired by her Black experience and that her music is for everybody. And that is the truth for all of us! Black music is not specifically for the Black community to enjoy. Black music is American music, and should be loved year long, and not simply promoted or highlighted during the month of February. And the same goes for every culture. The Black History Month concert of 2023 will be an incredible journey and we hope you all will truly enjoy it.

Erika: The Black History Month concert highlights the excellence we have at the school and also pays homage to many underrepresented composers, vocalists, and other musicians. This concert highlights them in all their excellence and pays respect to the contributions they’ve made to this art. It’s an exciting thing to have young musicians come together for something so moving.

People should come and see it because it’s going to be an amazing performance! We have a range of talent from opera to jazz to musical theatre. The goal of this performance is to highlight black excellence and black creativity, to put it on a positive platform for everybody enjoy it with us. Everybody on the program is top tier, it’s just amazing what they do and the journey they take us through that reflect the times. Nina Simone says it’s an artist’s duty is to reflect their time, so it feels nice to recreate that here in 2023.

Why is the BSU important?

Jaydon:  The BSU is very special to me. It is one of the few places in the school where I can truly be myself. It is the one place where I can talk, laugh, and breathe with the people who not only look like me, but understand me. I have been a part of the BSU ever since my freshman year of 2019. Each year, there is always a new joy and excitement in what we create. In what we observe. The BSU is about community. The Black community at MSM is not large, and we are widely spread out between majors. I am the only African American in my class, which can be very exhausting. The core of the BSU is to have a space to see each other and recognize that we are here. A space where we can all grow, learn, and simply embrace what is our culture. To acknowledge who we are, and do so proudly.

Erika: The BSU is cultivated from all aspects of talent of the school whether it be jazz, classical, or musical theatre. It’s a time where we can all come together for a greater cause, create beautiful music, and have a bond in this environment. I feel like it is essential to have your community or your tribe and the BSU is a reflection of that.

What is your most memorable moment of being a part of the BSU since you joined four years ago?

Jaydon: In the BSU, we have so many hilarious stories. This is a hard question. In my four years, some of my absolute favorite moments were during the Halloween Flash Mob of 2019. Speaking more on that, we had Manny and the entire BSU in costume dancing to Micheal Jackson’s Thriller on the stairs of the cafeteria. All while tossing free candy to people! Another moment had to be the Washington D.C. trip of 2022 sponsored by our amazing supporter and friend, Sharon Daley-Johnson of Reaching for the Arts. We saw the Kennedy Center production of Written in Stone featuring Grammy award winning MSM alumna, J’nai Bridges (BM’ 09). We also toured several Smithsonian museums, and used the time to reconnect with each other outside of the school environment. This year specifically, I loved our first BSU meeting. I enjoyed seeing so many new faces meeting each other and once again reigniting that sense of community and respect.

Erika: This is my second BSU concert since I’ve a second year master student. The process of putting it all together and seeing everyone shine in all their glory on this grand stage MSM provides has been so wonderful. Also having the opportunity to have fellowship with everyone backstage and after the concert is just really nice. A lot of our relationships are cultivated on that stage and knowing that you have the support backstage and having the community to just be like “girl you know you killed it” that has been like no other experience I’ve had here so far.

How do you personally connect with the BSU?

Erika: I was a HBCU queen (Miss FAMU, 2021) and from someone who graduated from an HBCU which is a Historically Black College/University, it brings me so much joy to step into another leadership position in another environment and take heed of that responsibility to implement our presence here on campus. Everyone here is so talented, but we’re also busy. So I really enjoy being a liaison for everyone and to cultivate the relationships amongst the students in and outside of school. And that really turns into lifelong friendships because we as musicians, we need other musicians. It’s nice to have a moment to make new friends, network, and meet people from all over all over the world. Overall, it’s a great experience.

What would you like to tell students who are interested in joining?

Jaydon: For those interested in joining the BSU, go for it! It really is a joy to be a part of this amazing group of proud Black musicians. When you are a part of the BSU, you are a part of a community. We are stronger together than we ever will be divided. This is a space to learn, grow, laugh, and be your truest and most authentic self. There is never a dull moment! Whether it is volunteering, traveling, or simply having a hilarious zoom check in, the MSM BSU, in my opinion, is one of the most incredible and unique spaces here in MSM. I look forward to seeing what the BSU will continue to create and inspire in the future.