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Joseph AC Smith

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JANUARY 16, 2009 — A MOMENT I WILL NEVER FORGET.

This video takes me back to an extraordinary rehearsal with my choral ensemble, Chorale Le Chateau, at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City as we prepared for my mentor Wynton Marsalis’ upcoming performance connected to the inauguration of President Barack Obama.
And when I look back at this footage now, I’m still amazed by WHO WAS IN THE ROOM.
Sitting right there in the alto section was another one of my mentors — the living legend Elbernita “Twinkie” Clark.

TWINKIE CLARK. IN THE ALTO SECTION. REHEARSING WITH CHORALE LE CHATEAU!

And surrounding her were so many incredible artists, scholars, musicians, and voices whose collective impact reaches across opera, jazz, gospel, academia, sacred music, and the concert stage: Bettina Pennon, Tiffany Stevenson Freeman, Lorna Myers, Cherub Ruth, Nicole Elaine Phifer, Elaine Sturkey — sister of my beloved late godmother, the incomparable Jessye Norman — Patrice Eaton, the late Patricia Pates Eaton, Jorell Williams, Djore Nance, Dr. Charrise Barron, Dr. Cory Hunter, and so many others.

Some of the greatest opera singers, jazz vocalists, gospel powerhouses, scholars, educators, and musicians were gathered together in one choir.

At the time, we were simply working. Rehearsing. Preparing. Trying to make the music excellent. But nearly 18 years later, I can look back and recognize just how special and historic that room really was.

Music has given me the privilege of standing in some remarkable places with some remarkable people, and Chorale Le Chateau has always represented what can happen when extraordinary voices from different musical traditions gather around one common purpose.

Thank you, Joseph A.C. Smith, for pulling out your cell phone on January 16, 2009 and capturing this moment. You probably had no idea that all these years later, this little piece of footage would become such a priceless time capsule.

What a memory. What a room. What a choir. What a MOMENT.

#ChoraleLeChateau #WyntonMarsalis #TwinkieClark #BlackMusicExcellence #MusicHistory

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discovering hidden gems 📚☕️

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The Petal Club is truly a labor of love. I’m so grateful for the people God continuously send my way to support me.

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We’re celebrating Juneteenth and Father’s Day weekend at Dixon Books with special selections for both. Come by, browse, and be sure to check out @josephacsmith Freedom Summer reading list.We’re celebrating Juneteenth and Father’s Day weekend at Dixon Books with special selections for both. Come by, browse, and be sure to also check out @josephacsmith ‘s @blacknatchez Freedom Summer reading list!

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Watch @wsfa12news coverage of our John Lewis Student Civil Rights Pilgrimage to #Montgomery, #Troy and #Selma.

Thank you again to Lecia Brooks and the @splcenter for helping to sponsor the 35 students from @cghssaints @drewcharterschool @druid_hills_high and @jlewisinvictus.

Our Board Chair and Interim President @cmedcollins and Board Member @lemac2855 shared personal stories about Congressman Lewis throughout the trip.

@josephacsmith was our Trip Curator.

More to come.

#civilrightshistory #RepJohnLewis

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Students @cghssaints, @drewcharterschool, @druid_hills_high and @jlewisinvictus at the Edmund Pettus Bridge with Mayor Johnny "Skip" Moss of Selma. (@skipmoss3).

We’re in the middle of our three-day John Lewis Student Civil Rights Pilgrimage. Yesterday, we focused on the EJI Legacy Sites and today started off in Troy, with Rep. Lewis’ Family. We spent time at Troy University before heading to Selma.

We’ll catch up and share highlights from the rest of the trip–we still have one more day–but for now, we just want to say how impressed we are with the students who are with us. They have been great.

Everyone from the Mayor of Selma, to John Lewis’ family members, to the security guards at the Legacy Museum, to college students at Troy University who saw them in the cafeteria can see it. They are respectful, inquisitive and keenly aware of how far we’ve come / how far we still have to go.

To the teachers and parents of these students, you have done an incredible job. To the students, we can’t wait to see where you are in 5, 10 or even 15 years!

Go get into some #GoodTrouble!

@splcenter is our Presenting Sponsor. @josephacsmith is our Trip Curator.

@cmedcollins (Board Chair and Interim President) and @lemac2855 (Board Member) are also with us on the trip.

Photo Credit: @neilparekh (JLMLF Communications Consultant and School Liaison)

#Selma #EdmundPettusBridge

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We just started a three day Student Civil Rights Pilgrimage with about 30 students from @cghssaints, @drewcharterschool, @druid_hills_high and @jlewisinvictus.

We are going to Montgomery, Selma and Troy.

Our curator for the trip is @josephacsmith.

@splcenter is our Presenting Sponsor.

Follow our Story for updates.

#civilrightshistory #RepJohnLewis #GoodTrouble

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They say JOY comes In the morning but what does it really mean!? #poetry #2025 #2026 #artists #creatives creativesabbatical

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It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Join us for breakfast or lunch everyday from 9am-2pm. Late night bites and karaoke happening thru Saturday Nov.29 , 8pm til late. 227 N MLK St Natchez, MS 39120

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Day 4 Had to stop by 1720 Gallery & Gift Shop Evisioned by Joseph A.C. Smith

Entrepreneurs supporting entrepreneurs

#25thanniversary #nasdhomecoming25 #nasdalumni #classof2000 #natchezhigh #natchezms #nothingmatchesnatchez #highschoolreunion #fyp #foryoupage

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I had the honor of sitting down with my brother, Pastor Will, for Cultural Convos, and what a powerful and timely conversation it was! We dug deep into entrepreneurship, purpose, and building with intention.

The icing on the cake? I got to see my people, my HUSD crew for life. All these years later and we still show up for each other. It was so good to see the fam!
#CulturalConvos #HUSDForever #PurposeAndBusiness #Entrepreneurship #StillShowingUp #KingdomBuilders

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Soft launch recap of our debut pop-up at the ArtsNatchez & Smoke event

This was a test run and it was beautiful. I showed up, set up, and watched something I’ve dreamed about for two years come to life.

By the end of the night, I only had a handful of stems left , just enough to make a bouquet for myself. That felt like a sweet little wink from God.

There’s so much more I plan to integrate into this activation experience, and I’ll be taking you along as it all unfolds.

I found out about this event just 7 days before, and pulling it together was a whirlwind of fun. Huge thank you to @josephacsmith for connecting me to @thephrozen1 . You’re truly a gem to this community. And Fred , thank you for welcoming me into your event without us even having formally met.

To my sweet baby sister @cbv._insta , thank you for being my right hand and for declaring I’d sell out from the very start.

A more official launch is on the horizon , something that’ll really show how my creative brain approaches intentional, impactful experiences. (please share any venue suggestions below)

But for now, here’s a look at where it all began.

- Courtney 🌸

#events #impactactivations #engagementstrategies #floralplay #creativeoutlets #passionprojectsareimportant #natchezthingstodo #natchezevents #eventsandengagmentstrategist #popupevents #natchezms #misslou

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