The Community Music Center of Houston (CMCH) will mark Black Music Month with the return of its annual Legacy Project, a citywide celebration honoring Black musical heritage, community storytelling, and live performance in Houston’s Third Ward.

The 2026 program will feature the debut of the Firey String Sistas of New York City, alongside tributes to musicians, educators, and artists whose work has shaped Houston’s Black cultural landscape.

The celebration opens Sunday, June 7, at the historic Eldorado Ballroom in the Third Ward Cultural District. The afternoon begins at 2 p.m. with a Black Music Month art opening in the Dupree Room, featuring the exhibition “Music is My Sanctuary” presented in partnership with the Community Artists’ Collective. The exhibition highlights visual interpretations of music as cultural memory and community expression.

The program continues from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. with the Legacy Honoree Celebration and Concert, featuring a performance by the Firey String Sisters, a New York City-based ensemble led by Nioka Workman (cello), Marlene Rice (violin), and Mala Waldron (piano and vocals). The group blends jazz, soul, global funk, and world music and has performed with artists including Aretha Franklin, Beyoncé, Lauryn Hill, and India.Arie.

CMCH’s Legacy Project builds on that national foundation by bringing together visual art, live performance, and public memory. This year’s honorees include Dr. Anne Lundy, Dr. Ruth Stewart, Ina Zellers, and Dr. Gloria Quinlan, recognized for their contributions to music education and cultural preservation.

The Eldorado Ballroom, a landmark in Houston’s cultural history, has long hosted some of music’s most iconic performers, including Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, B.B. King, and the late Jewel Brown.

This year’s programming also expands through a partnership with the Rutherford B. H. Yates Museum in Freedmen’s Town, extending Legacy Project activities throughout June as part of “Harmonies of Heritage: A Juneteenth 2026 Celebration of African American Music.” Events will take place at the J. Vance and Pauline Gray Lewis Museum Home of Legal and Education Professions.

Additional June activations include community programming on June 18, June 25, June 27, and June 30, featuring tours, public events, and educational offerings in partnership with Community Artists’ Collective and Freedmen’s Town Museums Houston / Rutherford B. H. Yates Museum. Private tours are available for $25, with proceeds supporting the museum’s preservation work spanning more than three decades..

The Legacy Project concludes its opening week with a donation-based concert experience on June 7, supporting CMCH programming and continued community access initiatives.

Attendees may RSVP via Eventbrite.