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The UMD Symphony Orchestra opens its 2024-25 season with William Grant Still’s Symphony No. 1, “Afro-American,” the first symphony composed by an African American to be performed by a major orchestra when it premiered in 1931. This remarkable piece is a love letter to blues and Black culture, showcasing Still’s vision to elevate the blues, which he felt was often considered a "lowly" expression, to the highest musical level. By masterfully integrating blues progressions and rhythms with traditional symphonic forms, Still created a symphony that resonates with profound emotion and cultural significance.