91短视频鈥檚 piano virtuoso David Berry is gathering his friends for a celebration of music and community. And, he鈥檚 bringing along a special guest: a Grammy Award-winning violinist who鈥檚 performed in sold-out stadiums with Beyonc茅 and Jay-Z.

The David Berry and Friends concert, back by popular demand for a third straight year, returns to Martin Chapel on Friday, March 15, at 7 p.m. The concert is free to attend and open to the public. A suggested $10 donation can be made online . 

Berry, music program director at 91短视频 as well as the night鈥檚 featured pianist, said the purpose of the concert is to bring members of the community together for a diverse repertoire of classical, jazz, soul, spirituals and gospel music. 

鈥淎ll of these styles have been a part of my life,鈥� he said, 鈥渁nd I鈥檒l be performing with people I鈥檝e gotten to know from different corners of our community.鈥�

Who鈥檚 on stage

The talented artists joining Berry on stage include: Grammy-nominated cellist Amanda Gookin, saxophonist Josh Dove, drummer and 91短视频 music alum Joseph Harder, bassist Joseph Nichols, multi-genre singers Michael Richardson and Devonte Garcia, actress Andre谩 Bellamore, and special guest artist, violinist Lady Jess.

During the concert, Berry will share stories of how he knows the musicians performing with him. For example, Dove is the owner of , a Harrisonburg, Virginia, store that helped Berry move a piano into his home.

Berry and have performed together in New York City with the Harlem Chamber Players. The violinist is a soloing member of Beyonc茅鈥檚 band and joined the Single Ladies singer and Jay-Z during their On The Run II tour in 2018. She also performed with Beyonc茅 at the Coachella festival (2018) and appeared in the Netflix concert film Homecoming (2019). Lady Jess has played with The Roots on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and collaborated with artists such as Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys and Hans Zimmer 鈥� arranging and recording with the latter for the live-action The Lion King soundtrack.

Gookin is the executive director of the and works with Berry, its artistic director, to plan the annual weeklong event. Her cello music has been described as 鈥渢he highest level of artistry鈥� () and she鈥檚 been praised for her 鈥渆xpert technical work鈥� (The Strad).

Both of the night鈥檚 vocalists are students at James Madison University. Berry described Richardson’s voice as big, booming and baritone, and Garcia’s as 鈥渁mazing and soulful.鈥�

What to expect

The concert will feature works ranging from Antonin Dvo艡谩k鈥檚 Piano Trio No. 3 in F-minor, Op. 65, to soulful classics by Alicia Keys and Walter Hawkins.

Dvo艡谩k was a Czech composer from the 19th century best known for his “New World Symphony.” Berry described the piece he’ll be playing with Gookin and Lady Jess as “a full journey.鈥� 鈥淚t鈥檚 a classical masterwork of chamber music,鈥� he said, 鈥渂ut it鈥檚 influenced by a love of Bohemian folk music.鈥�

Berry said Lady Jess will meet with 91短视频 music students the day before the concert and talk to them about pursuing a career in music. In a recent about the concert, Lady Jess said she was 鈥渧ery excited to meet these students and to collaborate with some incredible artists.鈥�

This event will be livestreamed on the Facebook page.