Originally written as a poem by NAACP leader James Weldon Johnson and set to music by his brother John Rosamond Johnson in 1900, the song became a standard in black church hymnals and revered as an anthem for freedom and the affirmation of African American people. In 1919, amid increased racial tension and violence, the NAACP formally dubbed "Lift Every Voice & Sing" as the "Negro National Anthem." Since its premiere in Jacksonville, Florida, on Abraham Lincoln's Birthday, February 12, 1900, "Lift Every Voice & Sing" remains an enduring song of hope leading our communities towards the realization of Dr. King's dream of a beloved community.
Peyton Roach, who plays viola in ESYO Symphony Orchestra, commented on the significance of the performance, " It meant a lot, and it was very special to me because it's a very unifying piece with a great viola part," she said. "I've experienced racism before, and I've been called the n-word. It felt good to be able to perform a triumphant piece about lifting your voice, especially because we recorded it during a time of social unrest and violence towards black people."