Founded in 1933, the Oakland Symphony has become a staple of the East Bay area and a lightning rod of innovation in programs that feature traditional and trending musical repertoire that is something peppered with socio-political overtones. Despite a past bout of financial instability, the orchestra is thriving with its in-house Oakland Symphony Chorus, Oakland Symphony Youth Orchestra and new music director Kedrick Armstrong who is also music director of the Knox-Galesburg Symphony of Illinois. His appearances include conducting the Lyric Opera of Chicago, DePaul Opera Theatre, Washington National Opera and recent performance of Daniel Bernard Roumains’s Voodoo Violin Concerto No. 1 with the Chicago Symphony. “Oakland is a richly diverse community and our orchestra has long aimed to embrace as many aspects of our community as possible,” says Armstrong.
As an African-American leading the Oakland Symphony, Armstrong continues a tradition of excellence established by former trailblazing music directors Calvin Simmons and Michael Morgan – whose programs evoked the African-American cultural experience. The orchestra’s 2024-2025 season includes concerts at historic Paramount Theatre that feature a tribute to the legends of disco on December 15, Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition paired with Daniel Bernard Roumain’s Forgiveness: Suite for Spoken Word and Orchestra, Carlos Simon’s Here I Stand: Paul Robeson paired with Brahms second symphony and season-ending concert of Beethoven’s ninth symphony.
The career of renowned bass-baritone Paul Robeson (1898-1976) is steeped in accolades as international vocal star, Rutgers University football player, a brief stint as lawyer, film credits and a penchant for outspoken beliefs that were viewed at the time as controversial, of which lasting consequences ensued. Here I Stand: Paul Robeson, on Oakland Symphony’s May 16, 2025 program, is a work based on the bass-baritone’s autobiography, Armstrong comments that Robeson was a formidable figure in American and global history. “Unfortunately, I knew nothing about him until I was invited to conduct the premiere of Carlos Simon and Dan Harder’s Her I Stand: Paul Robeson in early 2024.”
Armstrong discusses the impact of Robeson’s contribution as an African-American artist. “The erasure of Robeson’s legacy for world history mimics the erasure of so many composers and artists of color throughout history. There is tremendous power in witnessing the retelling of significant cultural history by composers from those cultures. It connects audiences to the legacy of representation in our art field while showing them the current examples. Telling our stories through art has always been a political and emotional act, from Nina Simone to Beethoven, Shostakovich to Paul Robeson. As our audiences experience the power of our shared humanity inside the concert hall, I hope it compels them to seek the same as they leave.”
Armstrong’s eloquently expressed vision for concertgoers is also reflected in shaping a newly formed relationship with the Oakland Symphony. In mentioning repertoire preferences, he includes the categories of traditional, new music and underrepresented works, of which his aim is to highlight how music from the 17-th to 20th centuries can dialogue with newer music composed during the past twenty years. “Our field historically was one of the current, the now; always fascinated by the latest composition or compositional technique. I’m lucky that the Oakland Symphony has a rich history of championing new music, which we will continue to build upon.”
Armstrong explains that “underrepresented works that interest me come from underrepresented cultures/voices in the classical zeitgeist or quality works that our orchestra has never explored. Ultimately, my vision is curiosity about the repertoire and the audiences/musicians who engage with the repertoire. I’m in my first year and made it my priority to relocate to Oakland. I hope to continually challenge myself and our organization to reflect our community on and off the stage.” Kedrick Armstrong’s creative vision should create a sense of musical magic for the Oakland Symphony and its concertgoers.