Photo by Hollis King
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Created by composer Etienne Charles, San Juan Hill: A New York Story is an immersive multimedia creation that celebrates a vital chapter of New York's past. Through music, visuals, and first-person accounts, this powerful work shines a light on the historic communities of the area where Lincoln Center stands today. Blending diverse musical styles—including ragtime, jazz, stride piano, swing, blues, mambo, paseo, Antillean waltz, calypso, funk, disco, and Hip-Hop—with historical film and compelling narratives, the work showcases the myriad cultures that migrants brought to New York from the American South and the Caribbean. Featuring Etienne Charles & Creole Soul, University of Miami's Frost Symphony Orchestra (where Charles teaches and serves as the Director of the Frost Studio Jazz Band), and special guests, this piece is a testament to the enduring spirit and forgotten stories of a community that helped shape the city's cultural landscape.

Explore the program »

Commissioned by Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts

Commissioning of San Juan Hill: A New York Story is underwritten by Cecily M. Carson, Carson Family Charitable Trust

 

 

Program Notes

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