Classical Musicians of African Descent

WXXI Classical 91.5 is in the process of building a resource of photos and brief biographical information about musicians of African descent. This resource is by no means complete, and we rely on you to help us build the site by sharing your information. Please click on the alphabetical groupings below to begin your discovery.

Adam Sadberry, flute

Classical 91.5 WXXO-FM | By classical intern

Published August 18, 2017 at 9:42 AM EDT

Sadberry, originally from the Houston area, joined the Detroit Symphony Orchestra as an African-American Orchestral Fellow in the fall of 2018. Adam’s orchestral experience includes performances as principal flutist with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Omaha Symphony, and the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, and he also performed with the Albany Symphony, Detroit Chamber Winds, and New World Symphony. He has been a soloist with the Detroit Chamber Orchestra, Cordancia Chamber Orchestra, Clear Lake Symphony, and the Conroe Symphony. Adam can be heard playing on the soundtrack of the live action remake of Disney’s The Lion King which was released on July 19, 2019.

In his teen years, Adam was a Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist through NPR’s From the Top, a silver medalist in the Houston Symphony League Concerto Competition, and a finalist in the US Army Band’s Collegiate Solo Competition.