Preserving America’s Most Profound Musical Legacy

Arch Angel Productions begins with a love of great music.

At fifteen, Roy Jennings was immersed in the music of H. T. Burleigh, William Dawson, Hall Johnson, Margaret Bonds, and other composers and arrangers whose work included remarkable settings of the African American Spiritual.

Years later, Roy worked as pianist, assistant, and editor with Sir Edward Boatner, the renowned composer, teacher, and arranger of African American Spirituals. Roy realized that what teachers and mentors had once given to him was now being entrusted to him.

He had entered the circle.

Arch Angel Productions exists to widen that circle.

Our programs embrace music across traditions while maintaining a special commitment to the African American Spiritual. Some people come already knowing and loving this music. Others recognize songs they have heard all their lives without knowing they are Spirituals. Still others simply come because they love great music.

There is room in the circle for all of them.

What We Are Building Now

During the 2026–2027 season, Arch Angel Productions is launching a four-part concert series, Songs for the Beloved Community, at First Presbyterian Church of Englewood, made possible in part by the church’s generous donation of rehearsal and performance space and sound engineering support in its newly rebuilt sanctuary.

Abyssinian Baptist Church has also generously continued to make rehearsal space available to Roy Jennings, extending a musical relationship that has spanned many decades.

The series begins September 27 with March to Freedom for All: An Afternoon of Song, Spirit, and Conversation.

Your support helps make these concerts possible by supporting artists, rehearsals, production, program materials, outreach, and community partnerships.

But our work extends beyond the concert stage. Arch Angel Productions also brings music into K–12 schools, colleges and universities, and churches through performances, education, workshops, and residencies.

The circle has been carried this far by people willing to give their time, talent, and treasure. Our board has given generously of all three to move this work forward.

But volunteer commitment alone cannot sustain it.

To keep widening the circle, we need professional leadership and infrastructure to pursue grants, develop partnerships, build audiences, support artists, and sustain our programs. Operating support helps provide grant development, executive leadership, administration, technology, communications, fundraising, and program development.

“Music allows us to recognize ourselves in the eyes of another as they recognize themselves in ours.” — Roy Jennings

Your gift helps widen the circle, bringing great music to audiences today and helping us reach the students, artists, and communities who will carry it forward tomorrow.

Through our Circle of Angels campaign, we invite you to become part of that continuing story.

Join the Circle of Angels

Come for the music. Join the circle. Help us widen it.

Circle of Angels - Support Songs for the Beloved Community 2026-27

Help bring this extraordinary music to new audiences and new generations