Castle of our Skins

Known for bringing “an endlessly curious and almost archaeological mind to our programming” (The New York Times), Castle of our Skins is a Black arts institution that centers Black arts, culture, and history in each curated event, musical selection, and artistic collaborator chosen. With our 11-season track record of creating multidisciplinary experiences, building collaborations, and promoting under celebrated narratives, we are known as being “champions of Black artistry” (The Strad) with “ambitious hopes” that “seem right for a world that more often than not seems agonizingly divided” (Boston Globe). 

Co-founded in 2013 by two African American musicians who met while attending the New England Conservatory, Castle of our Skins has presented thought-provoking programs throughout Greater Boston and beyond at such venues as Hibernian Hall, the Kimmel Center (Philadelphia), and Sheldonian Theatre (Oxford, England). Over the years, we have partnered with diverse organizations ranging from the youth-focused Project STEP, Conservatory Lab Charter School, and the Boston Public Schools system, to cultural institutions including the Celebrity Series of Boston, Boston Symphony Orchestra, and the Museum of African American History, to national and international partners such as the Boulanger Initiative (DC) and Ensemble Recherche (Germany). Across all of our collaborations and programmatic efforts, we strive to reach new audiences - particularly those identifying from the African diaspora - while centering Black culture, arts and community. 

Committed to education - especially early intervention through music and the arts - we are proud to create culturally-responsive workshops and curriculum guides for young learners, commission new works by Black composers for primary school music students, and lead multi-day college residencies around the country. In 2024, we released several publications through the newly created Music Inclusion Hub and Rising Tide Music Press in partnership with Boston Public Schools. 

Fundamentally, we are storytellers - griots - who engage with a medium of art practices to highlight the multi-dimensionality of Black creativity. Within the Greater Boston classical music and arts scene, we are unrivaled in our dedication to program works by African diasporic composers in collaboration with other artistic disciplines – spoken word, visual arts, dance, multimedia, crafts, fashion design, etc. Our highly collaborative spirit and unwavering commitment to elevating Black creativity are balanced by our long-standing curiosity in history and impactful storytelling.  

Mission  
Castle of our Skins is a Black arts institution dedicated to fostering cultural curiosity and celebrating Black artistry through music. In classrooms, concert halls, and beyond, Castle of our Skins invites Black heritage and culture exploration, spotlighting both unsung and celebrated figures of past and present.