TICKETS: $15 (students $5 with student ID at the door)
Doors at 7 pm | Performance at 7:30 pm

*The artist has requested proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test for this event. Please be prepared to present your vaccination card or a negative Covid test taken within 72 hours at check-in.

Adam Sadberry continues the legacy of his grandfather, the late journalist L. Alex Wilson, through “musical journalism,” which he defines as “performing music that tells stories of the world.” This specific concert will feature pieces by composers of African descent that Adam is pairing with articles from L. Alex Wilson’s newspaper, The Tri-State Defender.

Adam will be joined on stage by pianist Dr. Artina McCain, clarinetist Dr. Andre Dyachenko clarinetist, and a guest narrator.

Music is always telling us something regardless of whether it is a specific message or not, and in the case of this concert, the music tells us stories that are rooted in the African diaspora and the legacy of the late journalist, L. Alex Wilson. L. Alex Wilson was the general manager and editor of The Tri-State Defender here in Memphis during the Civil Rights Era, and during 2019, his grandson and flutist Adam Sadberry moved from Detroit to Memphis to join the Memphis Symphony Orchestra during “the modern Civil Rights Era.”

Adam Sadberry is a winner of the Concert Artists Guild International Competition and is represented by Concert Artists Guild.

About Adam Sadberry:
Memphis Symphony Orchestra acting principal flutist Adam Sadberry is known for his radiant, lyrical playing, and he’s committed to expanding the Black diaspora in the classical music world through promoting equity, representation, music education, and commissioning music that tells stories of the Black diaspora – in other words, creating musical journalism. Adam is motivated to continue the legacy of his late grandfather L. Alex Wilson, an important journalist and unsung hero of the Civil Rights Movement.

Adam has performed with orchestras around the country, including the St. Louis Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Des Moines Metro Opera Orchestra, Albany Symphony Orchestra, Omaha Symphony, Sphinx Symphony Orchestra, and the New World Symphony. As a concerto soloist, he has performed with the Clear Lake Symphony, Conroe Symphony Orchestra, Cordancia Chamber Orchestra, and the Detroit Chamber Orchestra, and he has also made guest appearances at Oakland University, University of Memphis, University of South Florida, National Flute Association, and the New York Flute Club to give recitals, masterclasses, and presentations. Adam’s presentation, Using Your Identity to Create a Relevant Voice in Music, lays a foundation for using one’s experiences and perspectives as a catalyst for generating change through music.

Along with maintaining a private flute studio, Adam teaches and mentors through non-profit organizations that provide free private lessons and resources to underserved communities including The Key Change and Raise the Bar. He is also proud to formerly teach through the Memphis Music Initiative, an organization that “invest[s] in youth through transformative music engagement, creating equitable opportunities for black and brown youth in Memphis.” Adam is on the boards of the Umoja Flute Institute and the International Society of Black Musicians, organizations that provide resources to musicians of African descent.

Adam’s education includes receiving a Bachelor of Music in Flute Performance and a Performer’s Certificate from the Eastman School of Music and a fellowship with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. He is indebted to all of his former teachers and mentors including Bonita Boyd, Anne Harrow, Jennifer Keeney, Amanda Blaikie, Sharon Sparrow, and Jeff Zook. He currently receives coaching from Keith Underwood. In his spare time, Adam enjoys roller skating, being in nature, and eating as much food as his body can handle.

Adam can be heard playing on the soundtrack of Disney’s The Lion King (2019).