For its annual Black History Month concert, SFCM’s Black Student Union is inviting some names from both the Conservatory’s Pre-College and across the Bay.

“Organizing any concert is a lot of work,” BSU member and Roots, Jazz, and American Music (RJAM) drum student Jayla Hernandez allows. “I didn’t know if I was going to be pulling teeth the whole time. But it got better as more people decided they wanted to be a part of this, and when people are willing to perform and put on this evening, that makes all the rough edges worthwhile. We didn't really have a piano player and Donald [Lee III] just decided he wanted to step up and play piano for everybody's pieces, so big ups to him.”

RJAM drummer Miles Turk adds, “These performances are about making a space for us which is so important and something that I really appreciate.” Aside from songs by Thelonious Monk and Donny Hathaway, Turk is performing an original piece, “Judas,” as part of his portion of the evening. “I haven't had a chance to perform it all that often,” he says. “And I think having that space Jayla created within this concert to perform an original is a great opportunity.” RJAM bassist Ashton “Kole” Dixton will also be performing original works on voice as well as bass.

The Onde Trio.

But the evening is hardly limited to the RJAM program—or by age. It opens with the Pre-College student Onde Trio performing a piano trio by Anton Arensky, before progressing to solo piano (works from Black composers Florence Price and Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, played by Donald Lee III) and voice performances from Anna Carney of Amy Beach and the Broadway standard “Dream a Little Dream of Me.”

Hernandez also saw an opportunity to, in her words, “intertwine my Oakland and San Francisco lives.” For her closing segment of the program, she’s performing with The Black Excellence band, a hip-hop group from her hometown. “I wanted to bring them over here and just have them rock out on the show,” Hernandez says. “I don't think SFCM has ever had a rapper in this school before to perform, so that's going to be different.” Another East Bay musician, vocalist Tiffany Austin, will be joining the evening as well. Both Hernandez and Turk have regularly backed up Austin at SF venues like Keys Jazz Bistro (owned by founding Executive Director of RJAM Simon Rowe) and Wyldflowr Arts in Oakland, co-owned by Austin.

“I'm just excited for this concert,” Hernandez says. “I wouldn't want to do this with anyone else. These beautiful students that are in my club are one of a kind, and I'm just so happy to be here with them, and just share the stage with these beautiful people and explore this opportunity.”

Learn more about the Roots, Jazz, and American Music Department at SFCM.