About Us
B-Sharp is the Queens/Long Island branch of NANM
The National Association of Negro Musicians, Inc. is this country’s oldest organization dedicated to the preservation, encouragement, and advocacy of all genres of the music of Black Americans. NANM had its beginning on May 3, 1919 in Washington, D.C. at a temporary initial conference of “Negro” musicians under the leadership of Henry Grant and Nora Holt. Its first national convention was held in Chicago, Illinois in the same year. Our organization is supported by people of strong cultural ideals and high musical standards, all of whom care deeply for the fine art of music and for an inclusive musical culture throughout the country. Within NANM, members lend their support and influence—educators and professional musicians share their musical knowledge, amateurs and enthusiasts grow in their musical enjoyment, and people of all ages come together to participate in one of the most powerful forces of spiritual and cultural development and the total human experience that is music.
From the beginning, NANM has provided encouragement and support to thousands of Black American musicians, many of whom have become widely respected figures in music and have contributed significantly to American culture and music history. The organization has awarded scholarships to scores of talented young musicians throughout the country. A list of them would include such luminaries as Marian Anderson (first scholarship award recipient in 1919), William L. Dawson, Florence B. Price, Margaret Bonds, Warren George Wilson, James Frazier, Julia Perry, Grace Bumbry, Leon Bates, Joseph Joubert, Awadagin Pratt, and many, many others.
B-Sharp History
The B-Sharp LI Branch of the National Association of Negro Musicians, Inc. was organized by Mrs. Grace Servier, who realized the need for a Branch of this organization in the Queens/LI, NY community. The mission: to preserve, enhance and produce music composed and/or performed by members of the African American diaspora. The Branch received its charter in 1957.
The first president was Mrs. Redmond, followed by: Mrs. Grace Servier, Mrs. Lora Lewis, Ms. Lena Dancy, Mr. Samuel Daniels, Ms. Mercedes Keeler, Mr. Brock Williams, Mrs. Patrice Ward, Mrs. Jarvis Edwards, Mrs. Daisy Manning, Mr. Ray McGill, Mrs. Daisy Davis, Dr. Anne-Marie Hudley Simmons, Mrs. Barbara DeBerry, Dr. Sherill Spruill and currently, Mrs. Victoria Burton
In the early years, music teachers such as Mrs. Elizabeth Miller, Mrs. Jones, and Mr. Samuel Daniels sponsored junior and youth branches composed of the students from their studios. Instructors have been the late Rev. Gloster B. Current, Sr., the late Mr. Brock Williams, and the late Ms. Pamela Mann. Mr. Ray McGill. Mrs. Zora Clement and Mrs. Hudley Simmons were more recent instructors.
One of the highlights of the musical programming was the formation and many appearances of the B-Sharp LI Chorale, organized and initially directed by Mr. Samuel Daniels. The Chorale was presented in programs throughout the Queens and Long Island communities. Other directors of the Chorale have been Dr. Gloster B. Current, Sr., Mr. Henry Coleman, and Mr. Brock Williams. The Chorale is being revitalized as a regular unit and music programs will be enhanced with this chorus, organized for a specific occasion. Among the persons who have been featured soloists in many B-Sharp LI Branch programs are Ms. Marvinell Scott, Mr. Roosevelt Brooks, Mr. Raymond Toomer, Ms. Mildred Hunte and Mrs. Zelma Lewis. Mr. Joseph Joubert, a leading arranger of choral music, was winner of the piano competition.
Special programs throughout the years have included: youth programs, Handel’s Messiah Sing-In, Black History programs, The Great Hymn Sing, now initiated under Mrs. Barbara DeBerry, The Great Hymn Songs of Praise, Musicians Who Cook Jazz Scholarship Benefit Luncheon, workshops and youth concerts.
The B-Sharp LI Branch has sponsored contestants in the New York State Coordinating Council, the Eastern Region and the National Scholarship competitions. Those who were sponsored included: Ms. Karen Padmore, Mrs. Celeste Bradsher-Layne, Mr. Roderick Dixon, Mr. Hebert Paultrie, and Ms. Jennifer Damsky, to name a few. Ms. Jennifer Damsky was third place winner in the national woodwind competition. National winners more recently were Leonard Hayes (pianist), Keenan McCoy (saxophone) and Prince Namatai Nyatanga (organist).
Among other “special features” through the years were Musical Interludes presented by a Branch members and Church Music Workshops. The early sessions were chaired by Mrs. Rebecca E. Current. Mrs. Arlein Straw, a music educator, one of our early members was a published composer of music. Much of the B-Sharp Q/LI history had been preserved by Ms. Lena Dancy, Ms. Frances Hill, Mrs. Lora Lewis and Mrs. Elizabeth Miller. These historians are now in the “Heavenly Choir.” The late Mrs. Rebecca Current was B-Sharp LI’s parliamentarian/historian and Mrs. Janie Christmas, was the assistant historian.
Presently, B-Sharp Queens/Long Island has approximately one hundred members and looking to raise that to 1,000.
