On Thursday evening, April 11, at 6 p.m., the museum will host the Max Roach Centennial Celebration & Jazz Festival opening night reception with special guest Elizabeth City native, A. B. Spellman. Mr. Spellman has written essays and poetry for Rhythm magazine and taught at Morehouse College, Emory University, Rutgers, and Harvard University.
In 1975, Mr. Spellman became director of Arts in Education Study Projects for the National Endowment for the Arts. He retired from the NEA in 2005. In 2024, Mr. Spellman won a Grammy Award for Best Classical Compendium for the project Passion for Bach and Coltrane.
Guests can meet Mr. Spellman in the museum lobby at 6 p.m. At 6:45 p.m., A Conversation with A. B. Spellman, hosted by Veronica Downing of ECSU/WRVS Jazzy 89.9 Radio Show Honey Vibes Weekend Radio Show and the JazzHead Podcast will be held in the auditorium, with a reception following.
A grant from the National Endowment for the Arts sponsors the Max Roach Centennial Celebration & Jazz Festival 2024.