Photograph of the conductor looking into the orchestra during a performance at the 14th annual Christmas/Kwanzaa Concert, held by The Black Academy of Arts and Letters at the Naomi Burton Theatre in the Dallas Convention Center in Dallas, Texas. The orchestra members are all wearing white buttoned down shirts as they look up towards the conductor who has stage lights shining behind him. The photo is taken from behind trumpet players in the middle of the ensemble.

Photograph of the conductor looking into the orchestra during a performance at the 14th annual Christmas/Kwanzaa Concert, held by The Black Academy of Arts and Letters at the Naomi Burton Theatre in the Dallas Convention Center in Dallas, Texas. Stage lights shine behind the conductor as he stands in the middle of the large ensemble. The orchestra members are all wearing white buttoned down shirts. The photo is taken from behind the trumpet section, in the middle of the ensemble.

Photograph of a conductor looking into a large orchestra during a rehearsal at the 14th annual Christmas/Kwanzaa Concert, held by The Black Academy of Arts and Letters at the Naomi Burton Theatre in the Dallas Convention Center in Dallas, Texas. All of the musicians are wearing white buttoned down shirts as they look towards the conductor who stands in the middle of a large circle of performers. The photo is taken from the trumpet section, in the middle of the seated orchestra.

Photograph of a conductor moving his hand towards an ensemble during a performance at the 14th annual Christmas/Kwanzaa Concert, held by The Black Academy of Arts and Letters at the Naomi Burton Theatre in the Dallas Convention Center in Dallas, Texas. Audience members are visible in the background. The conductor is wearing a black suit.

Photograph of Nathan Myers, a conductor, raising his arm while the choir sings with Candi West, a vocalist, during a performance at the 14th annual Christmas/Kwanzaa Concert, held by The Black Academy of Arts and Letters at the Naomi Burton Theatre in the Dallas Convention Center in Dallas, Texas. The choir members and the conductor are raising their arms above their heads to dance during the performance. They are also all wearing black formal outfits.

Photograph of Nathan West, a conductor, singing with the choir and Candi West, a vocalist, during a performance at the 14th annual Christmas/Kwanzaa Concert, held by The Black Academy of Arts and Letters at the Naomi Burton Theatre in the Dallas Convention Center in Dallas, Texas. An ensemble member stands in the foreground as she looks towards the audience.

Photograph of Nathan West, the conductor, singing with a vocalist, Candi West, who holds a microphone during a performance at the 14th annual Christmas/Kwanzaa Concert, held by The Black Academy of Arts and Letters at the Naomi Burton Theatre in the Dallas Convention Center in Dallas, Texas. The vocalist stands before a seated ensemble as she projects her voice towards the audience. The conductor faces the ensemble as he gestures happily towards them.

Photograph of Nathan West, a conductor, speaking into a mic during a performance at the 14th annual Christmas/Kwanzaa Concert, held by The Black Academy of Arts and Letters at the Naomi Burton Theatre in the Dallas Convention Center in Dallas, Texas. He is facing towards the audience as a choir accompanies his performance while standing behind him, in the background. All of the performers are wearing black formal outfits.

Photograph of Nathan West, a conductor, turning away from the choir during a performance at the 14th annual Christmas/Kwanzaa Concert, held by The Black Academy of Arts and Letters at the Naomi Burton Theatre in the Dallas Convention Center in Dallas, Texas. He is gesturing wildly with his arms. A few orchestra members wearing white shirts are visible in the foreground. The ensemble members and the conductor are all wearing black outfits.

Photograph of Nathan West, a conductor, waving his hands in the air while facing towards the ensemble, who is standing off-screen, during a performance at the 14th annual Christmas/Kwanzaa Concert, held by The Black Academy of Arts and Letters at the Naomi Burton Theatre in the Dallas Convention Center in Dallas, Texas.

Photograph of April Jones Sigadi, a conductor, waving her arm as a student choir sings during a performance at the 14th annual Christmas/Kwanzaa Concert, held by The Black Academy of Arts and Letters at the Naomi Burton Theatre in the Dallas Convention Center in Dallas, Texas. All of the choir members, including the conductor, are wearing black formal outfits. An orchestra sits in the foreground.

Photograph of April Jones Sigadi, a conductor, waving her arms to direct a choir during a performance at the 14th annual Christmas/Kwanzaa Concert, held by The Black Academy of Arts and Letters at the Naomi Burton Theatre in the Dallas Convention Center in Dallas, Texas. All of the performers and the conductor are wearing formal black outfits.

Photograph of Nathan Myers, a conductor, waving his hands during a performance at the 14th annual Christmas/Kwanzaa Concert, held by The Black Academy of Arts and Letters at the Naomi Burton Theatre in the Dallas Convention Center in Dallas, Texas. He is facing towards the ensemble while standing behind a microphone stand.

Photograph of Curtis King, TBAAL founder and president, looking into the audience during a performance at the 14th annual Christmas/Kwanzaa Concert, held by The Black Academy of Arts and Letters at the Naomi Burton Theatre in the Dallas Convention Center in Dallas, Texas. Standing behind him is an audience consisting mostly of women.

Photograph of Curtis King, TBAAL founder and president, posing with two women at the 14th annual Christmas/Kwanzaa Concert, held by The Black Academy of Arts and Letters at the Naomi Burton Theatre in the Dallas Convention Center in Dallas, Texas. An audience is seen moving around the three people in the background.

Photograph of Curtis King, TBAAL founder and president, speaking to the audience with a microphone at the 14th annual Christmas/Kwanzaa Concert, held by The Black Academy of Arts and Letters at the Naomi Burton Theatre in the Dallas Convention Center in Dallas, Texas. A choir of darkly dressed singers sands and lightly dressed orchestra members stands behind him. Audience members are visible in the foreground.

Photograph of Curtis King, TBAAL founder and president, speaking to the crowd at the 14th annual Christmas/Kwanzaa Concert, held by The Black Academy of Arts and Letters at the Naomi Burton Theatre in the Dallas Convention Center in Dallas, Texas. The audience members are all standing while listening to his speech.

Photograph of Curtis King, TBAAL founder and president. speaking into a mic with a circle of attendees surrounding him during the 14th annual Christmas/Kwanzaa Concert, held by The Black Academy of Arts and Letters at the Naomi Burton Theatre in the Dallas Convention Center in Dallas, Texas. Some of the audience members appear to be bowing their heads in a silent prayer. Everyone pictured is in formal attire.

Photograph of Curtis King, TBAAL founder and president, speaking to the audience during the 14th annual Christmas/Kwanzaa Concert, held by The Black Academy of Arts and Letters at the Naomi Burton Theatre in the Dallas Convention Center in Dallas, Texas. A few of the audience members are seen bowing their heads in a moment of prayer. The picture is taken from atop the slightly elevated stage. Everyone pictured is dressed in formal attire.

Photograph of Curtis King, TBAAL founder and president, speaking to the crowd during the 14th annual Christmas/Kwanzaa Concert, held by The Black Academy of Arts and Letters at the Naomi Burton Theatre in the Dallas Convention Center in Dallas, Texas. A few of the audience members appear to be bowing their heads in a moment of prayer. Everyone pictured is standing while wearing formal attire.

Photograph of Curtis King, TBAAL founder and president, talking into a microphone in front of an orchestra at the 14th annual Christmas/Kwanzaa Concert, held by The Black Academy of Arts and Letters at the Naomi Burton Theatre in the Dallas Convention Center in Dallas, Texas. He holds a pamphlet in one hand. He and the ensemble behind him are all wearing black and white formal attire.

Photograph of Curtis King, TBAAL founder and president, talking to the audience at the 14th annual Christmas/Kwanzaa Concert, held by The Black Academy of Arts and Letters at the Naomi Burton Theatre in the Dallas Convention Center in Dallas, Texas. A few of the audience members appear to be bowing their heads in a moment of prayer. Everyone pictured is standing while wearing formal attire. The picture is taken from atop the slightly elevated stage.

Photograph of Curtis King, TBAAL founder and president, leading a crowd through a prayer at the 14th annual Christmas/Kwanzaa Concert, held by The Black Academy of Arts and Letters at the Naomi Burton Theatre in the Dallas Convention Center in Dallas, Texas. Everyone pictured is standing while bowing their heads and wearing formal attire. The picture is taken from a slightly elevated stage.

Photograph of a drummer and choir performing together at the 14th annual Christmas/Kwanzaa Concert, held by The Black Academy of Arts and Letters at the Naomi Burton Theatre in the Dallas Convention Center in Dallas, Texas. The choir members appear to be dancing along to their performance. All of the performers are wearing black formal attire.