Daniel Bernard Roumain, Resident Artist Catalyst at the New Jersey Symphony, on Black Classical Music, Hip-Hop, and The Newark Museum of Art’s Summer Concert Series
By Christopher Benincasa, JerseyArts.com
originally published: 08/05/2022

Earlier this week, composer, performer, educator, activist, and New Jersey Symphony Resident Artistic Catalyst Daniel Bernard Roumain brought jazz and jazz-inspired classical music to the Newark Museum of Art’s Summer Series along with a co-host, Grammy Award-winning clarinetist and saxophonist Paquito D’Rivera, and the New Jersey Symphony Chamber Players.
Roumain has worked with Lady Gaga, Philip Glass, Savion Glover, Bill T. Jones, and many more. He won an Emmy for composing music for ESPN, and he scored the film Ailey, a documentary about legendary choreographer Alvin Ailey, which premiered at Sundance Film Festival last year.
In this episode, we speak with Roumain about his unique role at NJ Symphony, Black classical music and hip-hop’s global influence.

The Newark Museum of Art’s summer concert series continues Aug. 6 at 7 p.m. with Simply Simone: The Music of Nina Simone. Aug. 11 — A Night of Jazz and Soul with Patience Higgins and the Sugar Hill Quartet and Aug. 17 — Bass & Flute Extravaganza
About the author: Christopher Benincasa is an Emmy Award-winning arts and culture journalist. He produced content for NJ PBS for a decade before co-founding PCK Media. Christopher currently works as a freelance producer, video editor, writer, and communications specialist for a diverse set of commercial, non-profit, and government clients. His work has been featured on various PBS stations, and in American Abstract Artists Journal, The Structurist, Paterson Literary Review, and JerseyArts.com.
Content provided by
Discover Jersey Arts, a project of the ArtPride New Jersey Foundation and New Jersey State Council on the Arts.
EVENT PREVIEWS
bergenPAC presents Gospel Music Legend Yolanda Adams
Thu, January 29, 2026
The Broadway Theatre of Pitman presents Born This Way - A Lady Gaga Tribute show on Thursday
Thu, January 29, 2026
People Get Ready: A "Blues & Rock 'N' Roll Summit" is coming to Lizzie Rose Music Room featuring Glenn Alexander & Shadowland plus James JB Barnes & The JB Blues Band
Thu, January 30, 2026
Prudential Center presents Rascal Flatts with Openers Lauren Alaina and Chris Lane
Thu, January 30, 2026
The Landis Theater presents BOSTYX - The Ultimate Boston & STYX Tribute Band on Friday
Thu, January 30, 2026
Algonquin Arts Theatre presents Magical Mystery Doors
Thu, January 31, 2026
State Theatre New Jersey presents Freestyle Flashback Concert 2026 on January 31st
Thu, January 31, 2026
The Levoy Theatre presents Dead On Live
Thu, January 31, 2026
Kean Department of Music presents Los Angeles Guitar Quartet on Saturday
Thu, January 31, 2026
The Dryden Ensemble presents "In Praise of Tears: Why Dowland and Schubert Still Move Us" on Saturday
Thu, January 31, 2026
FEATURED EVENTS
To narrow results by date range, categories,
or region of New Jersey
click here for our advanced search.
To narrow results by date range, categories,
or region of New Jersey
click here for our advanced search.