Events

Rakiyah is a beacon of innovation in the music industry, blending R&B, cultural fusion, and storytelling. Before becoming an alternative R&B sensation, she was an aerospace engineer and studied in South Korea, influencing her unique musical style. Inspired by icons like Missy Elliot and Janet Jackson, Rakiyah’s experimental R&B defies boundaries. Her Korean-English song “Like You” showcased her cross-cultural versatility. With her EP Into the Cosmos in 2021, Rakiyah solidified her place in music, blending soulful melodies with thoughtful lyrics. Each song highlights her skill as a vocalist and storyteller, spanning genres and geographies.

Renowned saxophonist Kevin Levi has performed across the U.S. and worldwide for decades, honing his melodic, signature sound. He has appeared alongside luminaries including Wynton Marsalis, Lionel Hampton, Marcus Miller, and Ashanti. His debut solo project, ATONE, is a rich tapestry of original, rhythmically rooted hip hop, R&B, neo-soul, and ballads.

Visit the museum to celebrate the opening of the museum’s newest exhibition, Columbia Air Center – Determined to Fly! Discover the untold story of Columbia Air Center, the nation’s first licensed Black-owned airport. Through vivid storytelling, holograms, and digital interactives, explore this overlooked chapter in Maryland’s aviation history. Included with museum admission.

Message is not your typical concert series. It is an oasis where local artists find their voice and share their stories. Here, music transcends mere entertainment–it becomes personal. Local talent takes center stage. These are the musicians who play at the neighborhood cafes, scribble lyrics on napkins, and dream big. They’re not chasing fame, they’re chasing connection. From soulful ballads to introspective rap, their performances resonate with authenticity. Every Message event is unrepeatable, no two shows are alike; each carries a unique message. The audience sits close enough to see the artist’s fingertips on the strings and feel the raw emotion in every lyric. This is an event for anyone seeking refuge from the noise, who craves more than a passive concert experience.

Accomplished singer/songwriter and master guitarist John Emil has performed across the U.S. and UK, equally adept with the acoustic Hawaiian lap steel guitar and Dobro. Fans hear haunting, subtle hints of Delta bluesmen Son House and Blind Willie Johnson, but Emil creates a unique style by integrating country blues, folk, and bluegrass sounds into his repertoire.

This soul singer and ‘musical medicine woman’ duo uses their voices to promote love, healing, and transformation through music.

Musical instruments have helped us communicate and express ourselves since the dawn of human culture. Learning about the musical instruments of the ancient Americas and building and playing our own unique instruments helps us to awaken the memory of our connection to nature, cultivate presence through working with clay, and experience joy through sound and music-making. In this hands-on workshop we will learn about ceramic musical instruments that have been made across Central and South America for thousands of years and learn to build and tune our own working clay flutes. Guided by the expert instruction of teaching artist, Melissa Hyatt Foss, you’ll learn about the history and significance of these ancient instruments! All materials, supplies and firing are included. No previous experience with clay, instruments, or music is needed!