Lift Every Voice
Lift Every Voice: A Singer Showcase will feature classic compositions that celebrate and reflect on the legacy of the African American civil rights movement. Lift Every Voice is a project designed to provide opportunities for members of the community to engage with professional singers and musicians in the exploration of Black/African American music.

The program, timed to honor the MLK, Jr. Bank Holiday on Monday January 20, will be directed by Dr. Dee Spencer and feature some of the Bay Area's leading vocalists. Each evening will feature the Dee Spencer Trio. Clairdee is the featured guest singer on Friday January 17 and Michelle Jacques is the guest on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19. Each evening will also feature a number of outstanding community singers.

Artist Biographies

Dee Spencer (Piano, Vocals)
Dee Spencer is an active performer, composer/arranger, and music director. She holds a B.S. in Music Education from Florida A&M where she majored in oboe performance. Dee received an M.M. from Washington University in St. Louis and Ed.D from the University of San Francisco. Her composition “Sweet Emma B” was commissioned for the 11th JEN Annual Conference held in New Orleans, LA in 2020. Dee’s performance credits include Grammy-Award winner Ledisi, jazz legends John Handy, Regina Carter, Jimmy Scott, Louis Bellson and Clark Terry. Her solo piano recording “Tranquility” was released in 2018. Dee recently served as a panelist for the 2023 Grammy Educator of the Year Award. Her former students include recording artists/producers, Braxton Brothers, Beyonce’s music director, saxophonist Tia Fuller, and Lauren Hill’s music director, saxophonist Howard Wiley.

Clairdee (Guest Vocalist, Friday January 17)
Clairdee moved to the Bay Area in 1986 where she began working with her mentor, drummer Billy Higgins, as well as trumpeter Eddie Henderson, saxophonist John Handy, and pianists Roland Hanna and Allen Farnham. Her discography includes three albums as leader. A passionate advocate for arts education, Clairdee is a former vocal jazz instructor at UC Berkeley's Jazz Department and Diablo Valley College, and is a teaching artist with SFJAZZ and the San Francisco Symphony’s education programs.

Michelle Jacques (Guest Vocalist, Saturday-Sunday, January 18-19)
During a four-decade career in the music industry, Michelle Jacques is, was and has become: a singer, band leader, composer, songwriter, musical-arranger and educator. The New Orleans native has traveled and performed with many well-known artists including: Wynton Marsalis, Linda Hopkins, Ladysmith Black Mambaza, Pete Seger, The Persuasions, Al Green and Manhattan Transfer. Notable Festival appearances include Montreux, Gurten, Berne, Festijazz and the UN Conference of Human Rights, Geneva. She was also a founding member of Street Sounds acappella quintet and an original member of Linda Tillery’s Cultural Heritage Choir.

Jewell McMillon (Bass)
Jewell is a bassist, music artist and mathematician from the Bay Area who has been a member of the musician and artist community in the Bay for the last five years. She is heavily influenced by all styles of Black American Music and her peers in the community. She’s recently had the pleasure of being a member of bands that played at the 2023 Black Joy Parade, The Chapel, and California Academy of Sciences and is excited about continuing to share community and music with the Bay Area and beyond.

Jayla Hernandez (Drums)
Jayla is a drummer, student and jazz enthusiast, who embodies the sound of West Oakland soul infused with the energy of young artists just like herself. Jayla Graduated from Oakland School from the Arts in 2020 and is currently pursuing her BM in Jazz Studies at San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Jayla has had the pleasure of working with various artist through the years and plans to continue that journey while playing and exploring the world of Black Music.