Richelle Claiborne & Friends are back at Chisholm for a fun night of music and wine!
"Richelle Claiborne’s 'Black Music Excellence Through the Ages' commemorated McLean Community Center’s 2023 Martin Luther King celebration, and it did not disappoint. Richelle is so engaging that you feel like she’s a dear friend about two songs into the show. Her musical journey through her life was relatable to audiences of all ages, races and backgrounds, and the music was killer. I can’t tell you how many people raved about the concert! Our community is pretty buttoned up, and Richelle had them singing and dancing along. She made us look good!" ~ Sarah N. Schallern Treff, Director
Audience responses to the survey question “What was the highlight of the performance?”
“Richelle Claiborne, her vocal accompaniment (a relative) and her band were phenomenal and off the chain and very lively. I thoroughly enjoyed the performance. Richelle has a very impressionable demeanor, gorgeous vocals, very witty and engaging. She made you feel very comfortable and welcoming in telling her life experiences and how music had a major impact on her life journey. I absolutely loved the performance and look forward to seeing Richelle Claiborne again at the MCC. Thank you for such a marvelous program, MCC!”
“Everything. It was the best performance I’ve ever seen.”
“Her connection with the audience. Also her enthusiasm for performing and drawing in her band members.”
“Everyone in our group, four family members, enjoyed the performance immensely.”
Claiborne’s reflections on life in Charlottesville go beyond tiki torches and statues. She tells a powerful story that includes a Charlottesville not mentioned on the news or social media. This musical account of her life, rooted in a place known historically and recently for violence and division, branches out and addresses relationships, loss, responsibility, transformation, and most of all, love. Claiborne inspires the audience to stretch beyond what they might assume about a woman of color from a place known for hatred and shares herself openly, honestly and unapologetically.
“Showcasing Richelle Claiborne’s strengths as a storyteller and a vocalist, Black Music Excellence truly lives up to its name. Richelle Claiborne expertly weaves personal stories with well-researched and significant tales of some of America’s most beloved black musicians, from Nina to Stevie and beyond. Richelle is a powerhouse singer and orator, plus she’s hilarious, as quick to move you to tears as she is to have you crying laughing. With an incredible backing band and epic song choices, Black Music Excellence is not to be missed.”
—Emily Morrison, Director of The Front Porch, Charlottesville, VA
Richelle Claiborne & Friends are back at Chisholm for a fun night of music and wine!
Summer Sundown at Chiswell is the perfect way to end the week! Richelle & Tucker will warm your spirits as the sun goes down with their acoustic set of old favorites and new tunes.
Black Music Excellence Through the Ages features Richelle Claiborne plus: Ti Ames Bud Bryant Rob Hubbard Ivan Orr Tucker Rogers