Western Michigan University’s Lewis Walker Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnic Relations and the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra (KSO) have partnered to present a free two-part course titled “The Phillips Brothers Orchestra,” taking place Tuesday and Thursday, Apr 8 and 10 at 3:00 PM at the Douglas Community Association.
The initiative is a collaboration between Dr. Karika Ann Parker, a postdoctoral research fellow at the Lewis Walker Institute, and Liz Youker, Vice President of Artistic Operations and Education for the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra. “I was so delighted when Dr. Parker reached out with an interest in exploring this topic with me,” say Liz Youker in a conversation with Cara Lieurance. “It’s really related to our vision which is that symphonic music is part of the daily life of our community.”
Dr. Parker explains that her initial research on Albert J White, a prominent Black brick mason in Kalamazoo, led her to the Phillips family. “For me, the history of a lot of residents in Kalamazoo is important to me because I’m born and raised here. And there are a lot of historical figures that many people do not know about.”…