UNDER ONE ROOF: The African American Experience in Music Hall With THEA TJEPKEMA, historic preservationist and Cincinnat

African Americans made their mark in Cincinnati Music Hall from its inception: builders, politicians, athletes, and performing artists of all kinds. Jazz greats, from Duke Ellington to Billie Holiday, as well as the earliest R&B and rock musicians immortalized on King Records, performed in the South Hall--one of the nation’s premier ballrooms. In the North Hall, World Heavyweight Champion Ezzard Charles fought some of his most important bouts, while in Springer Auditorium 19th-century stage shows and 20th-century operatic divas helped break the color barrier on the main stage. Experience the history of African Americans whose determination and artistry helped forge the ethos of our city and laid the foundation of American music.

Ms. Tjepkema serves as a preservationist, historian, and archivist on the Friends of Music Hall board. She helps identify restoration projects, manage archives, and develop new talks and tours about Cincinnati Music Hall. Tjepkema earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Historic Preservation from the Savannah College of Art and Design and Master in Arts Administration from The University of Akron. Recently she has been enjoying blogging about Music Hall history for the Friends of Music Hall website.