Sacramento lands Colour of Music, a classical Black musician festival. Here’s how to get tickets

Marcus D. Smith
·3 min read

For the first time, the Colour of Music Festival is bringing its showcase to the west coast and Sacramento was selected as the lead destination for its debut from Nov. 10 through Nov. 13.

The showcase is a composition of classical masterpieces being performed by an all-Black cast of professional classical musicians, composers, and performers presenting classical masterworks, chamber, vocal, piano performances, and a literary presentation.

Lee Pringle, founder and artistic director, said his intention in bringing the festival to Sacramento, and Oak Park in particular, is because of the self-sufficiency of Sacramento’s Black communities and businesses.

“This city is becoming a pace setter for the others to emulate, and I’m excited we can be a part of it,” said Pringle.

The shows will be held at different venues throughout Sacramento and the surrounding region, including the Guild Theater in Oak Park, Memorial Auditorium in downtown Sacramento, and the Mondavi Center’s Vanderhoef Theater at UC Davis.

Tickets are available for purchase online here, or by visiting www.colourofmusic.org.

The festival coming to Sacramento was two years in the making. It was supposed to come in 2020, but it was postponed because of COVID-19 shutdowns caused by the pandemic.

Sacramento City Councilman Rick Jennings, along with former councilmen Larry Carr and Allen Warren were instrumental in bringing the event to the city.

Carr brought the festival inquiry to Testa and Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg, because he learned through his experience on city council, art is what brings people together, especially in Sacramento.

“Sacramento is a very diverse city, it’s made up of many different cultures, many different ethnicities,” said Carr, “The Colour of Music fills an important niche because we have not seen a classical orchestra, performed by all Black members.”

For former councilman Carr, it was about the opportunity for the youth to see all Black performance.



Mayor Darrell Steinberg proudly welcomes the Colour of Music Festival to Sacramento and he says that it will become a tradition in the city.

Pringle said that this is an opportunity to drive the conversation forward about the inequities that Black musicians face when it comes to accessibility and funding for classical music and music education. For some of the musicians, the showcase is the first platform where they get to showcase their musical talents and knowledge.

The Colour of Music Festival was established in 2013, originating from Charleston, South Carolina. The festival has been held in cities such as Houston, Atlanta, Washington D.C., Pittsburgh, Nashville, Richmond, and of course Charleston and Columbia, South Carolina.

“We come from every end,” said Pringle. “Tall, big, round, plump, skinny, light brown, dark, almost look white and that’s what I love about who we are as a people.”

Pringle says he wanted to showcase the contributions that Black people have made to classical music, dating back to before Mozart. He intentionally spelled “colour” with a traditional European style because he always envisioned a “mosaic of various hues.”

The public will get the opportunity to experience and learn about the impact and significance of Black classical composers and performers on American and world culture.

The Colour of Music Festival will showcase diverse performances for four days.

Performances will include: a virtuosi all-female chamber orchestra, matinee piano and vocal recital series, an octet, and much more.

The intent is that the event becomes annual. Like Carr and Steinberg, Pringle wants to send a message to young people of color that art and music can be their future.

“Through Colour of Music showing black excellence at its height, I’m hoping it will inspire younger children to use music and music education as a trajectory for academic achievement,” said Pringle.

Tickets will be made available at each venue, an hour prior to the start of the performance. You can also call the preferred venue. For the Mondavi Center in Davis, call 530-285-0992. For the Memorial Auditorium in downtown Sacramento, call 916-808-5181. For the Guild Theater in Oak Park, call 843-608-8470.

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