250 Years of Local Music: Exploring Musical Traditions of Charlottesville & Albemarle

A program series at multiple venues presented by the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society and The Front Porch

Charlottesville has long been the center of a rich and diverse music culture. To commemorate 250 years of United States history, the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society and the Front Porch are partnering to present a series of historic discussions, musical performances, and educational programming designed to look at the long history of local music. Join us September 2026 through March 2027 as we look at how arts and culture shape our local history and how national music culture has influenced not only our local music trends, but also our musicians, performers, and traditions.

This series has been generously supported by the Bama Works Fund of the Dave Matthews Band.

September 2026

Shape Note Singing in Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley

Shape note singing has deep roots in the Shenandoah Valley, coming to the area in the 19th century and finding a home in rural churches, schools, and communities. With specially designed notes that are accessible to non-musicians, the tradition continued to grow in the region. Join us for a two-part program series with noted shape note singers Kelly Macklin and John delRe. During the first program, they will not only speak to the historical significance of this music in Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley, but also perform and demonstrate shape note singing. The second program will be an interactive workshop with other local shape note singers to learn about the musical style and participate in a group singing.

Part I: Historical Presentation & Demonstration at Friends Quaker Meeting House

Thursday, September 3, 2026 | 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Friends Quaker Meeting House of Charlottesville, 1104 Forest Street, Charlottesville, VA 

Free! Registration Highly Encouraged | Register Here

Kelly Macklin and John delRe, two noted shape note masters, will present a lecture/demonstration of shape note history and practice. They will specifically talk about the two books they have published in Virginia, and a third book, which has deep roots in Albemarle County, as yet unpublished. There will be performing and historical information. No musical knowledge is necessary. This will be a good introduction to shape note singing especially in Virginia.

Part II: Shape Note Singing Workshop at The Front Porch

Friday, September 4, 2026 | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

The Front Porch, 221 E Water Street, Charlottesville, VA

Free! Registration Highly Encouraged | Register Here

Kelly and John and other singers will lead a workshop specifically on shape note singing. It will focus on songs in The Shenandoah Harmony and The Valley Pocket Harmonist. It will include a brief review of shapes, current practice, descriptions of the musical style and actual singing. A general familiarity with music will be helpful, as this will be very interactive. Kelly and John will be joined by Cheri MacNeil and Sadhbh O’Flynn, shape note masters, singers and experts. Please join us in these events to learn more about shape note singing, its Virginia background, and musical, social, and religious roots.

October 2026

Black Fiddlers: The Untold Story of Black American Music Documentary Screening & Panel Discussion (Light House Studio)

Sunday, October 4, 2026 | 5:00 pm Reception, 6:00 pm Film Screening, 7:00 pm Panel Discussion

Light House Studio at Vinegar Hill Theatre, 220 W Market Street, Charlottesville, VA 

$20 Film Screening & Panel Discussion, $40 Film Screening, Discussion & Reception | Purchase Tickets Here

Join ACHS, The Front Porch, and Preservation Piedmont for an evening screening of Black Fiddlers, a film that explores the profound legacy of African Americans who have indelibly shaped the cultural landscape of American folklore. Director Eduardo Montes-Bradley delves into the personal and family stories of violin players of African descent across the United States, uncovering common threads and rich through lines that weave their histories together. Over a period of two years, the film was shot on location in diverse settings, including Harlem, Virginia, the Carolinas, Georgia, Texas, Oregon, and Ohio.

Notable performers such as David Roberts, Earl White, and Rhiannon Giddens share their individual journeys and music, providing a powerful and personal touch. Local historians and academics contribute scholarly perspectives that deepen and enrich the understanding and appreciation of American Folk music and culture. This compelling documentary aims to offer the first comprehensive account of America’s rich musical history as told by Black fiddlers today.

Following the film screening, join us for remarks from the filmmaker and a panel discussion on how local Black fiddlers have contributed to Charlottesville’s music history and landscape. Panelists include fiddler Earl White, who is featured in the film, and Auriana Woods, Director of Monticello’s Getting Word African American History Department. The panel will be moderated by Richard Will, professor of Critical & Comparative Studies in Music at the University of Virginia.

Stay tuned for more exciting programs coming November 2026 through March 2027!