'Most music is Black music.' This Juneteenth, harpist Madison Calley is challenging classical stereotypes

• Harpist Madison Calley learned about Juneteenth and other parts of Black history while in college.
• Calley performed 'Lift Every Voice & Sing' for Apple Music's "Juneteenth: Freedom Songs" playlist.
• She told Insider the holiday inspires her to confront stereotypes about Black classical musicians.

Raised in a predominantly white community, harpist Madison Calley didn't grow up celebrating Juneteenth, the African American and now-federal holiday commemorating the end of US slavery.

She wasn't alone. As many as 28% of Americans recently responded that they knew nothing about the holiday prior to 2020's racial unrest.

College ushered in Calley's awakening. There, she learned about Juneteenth and other elements of Black history. Now the LA-based musician and plant enthusiast is among prominent artists featured on Apple Music's "Juneteenth: Freedom Songs" playlist.

Related Article Module: Congress just voted to make Juneteenth a federal holiday. Here's why the campaign took decades.

On the 20-track collection she performs a soulful rendition of "Lift Every Voice and Sing," often referred to as the Black National Anthem. Honoring African Americans' legacy of resistance in America is only fitting for the harpist, who began playing the classical instrument at age 8.

Performing at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards with hip-hop artist Roddy Ricch, as well as the iHeartRadio Music Awards with singer Usher, Calley is on her own mission to confront stereotypes that can plague women and people of color in the classical arena.

She is also challenging listeners to rethink what makes music Black. Calley spoke with Insider about redefining Black music and what Juneteenth means to her.

This interview was condensed and edited for clarity.

Why did you decide to perform a piece for Apple Music's "Juneteenth: Freedom Song" playlist, and why did you choose "Lift Every Voice and Sing?"

Juneteenth is a very significant date for me and I chose "Lift Every Voice and Sing" because when I think Juneteenth I automatically think of "Lift Every Voice and Sing." That song is very significant too because it was created during a time of Jim Crow and segregation when Black people in America were trying to find their identity and their voice in the country.

So I resonate with that entire message because it took me a long time to find my own voice and my own identity within the classical community.

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And would you say that you have really found your voice now?

I am definitely much more confident in self, and in this life journey that I am on which is ever-evolving. I've definitely started to carve a path that I would call my own voice within my music; in taking a classical instrument and playing more soulful R&B, Jazz, Blues type sounds that resonate with my spirit.

You have been redefining what it means to be a harp player. What was your musical journey like to find your place in this industry?

I am classically trained. I studied with a private teacher for my whole life and we did all classical repertoire. I got accepted into college off of classical repertoire, I was in orchestra, all of my works were classical. But to be honest, it never really felt like home to me.

I never really fit in with the other harpists. I was always kind of an outcast in my groups, in my circles.

It really wasn't until I moved to LA and I got a gig doing an acoustic set with Willow Smith, which was my first time playing R&B on the harp. I realized how beautiful it really did sound on the harp and how much I really enjoyed that simple performance.

After that, I just started doing all R&B and pop and more current songs on my heart.

Do you see yourself as someone who is breaking down barriers as an orchestral musician?

I do, now.

At first, I didn't because I was just doing something that was fun for me to play, and it wasn't really until I started seeing the response that my videos were getting that I realized, wow, I'm really influencing some people. And now I teach lessons too to all minority students that want to play the harp because I'm playing these songs that they listen to.

Juneteenth is also in the middle of Black Music Month, and music is always a big part of our culture. As a Black harpist, what do you consider to be "Black" music?

Black music …(pauses to think).

I would consider anything soulful and rhythmic and anything you can kind of bounce to or vibe to. I think most, if not all, of the music that we listen to originated from Africa and from African music and I think that's powerful. I think most music is Black music.

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You're known on social media for the breathtaking covers you do on modern songs, when can we expect some original music?

I'm working on an original piece right now. I don't have a release date for it just yet, but it will be very soon. It's definitely going to be a reflection of some of the covers that I'm putting out now. So I would put it in the more R&B category.

It's a really really beautiful piece that that resonates with me very deeply that I'm creating right now. And so I am really excited to put it out. I definitely think that the fan base I have garnered already would really love this sound because it's very similar to the R&B covers that I do.

What do you think Juneteenth being a federal holiday means for Black Americans in the US, and how will you celebrate as a musician?

I think it's incredibly significant for it to get approved.

I think Juneteenth is a very significant date for many reasons. As we know now the Emancipation Proclamation was passed in 1863, but there were still slave owners and people that were still holding African Americans in slavery.

So there was still a lot of oppression terror and it was a horrific time for a lot of African Americans, and so I think Juneteenth is significant because it's a day to celebrate freedom but it's also a day to reflect on the ways that we're still oppressed today.

And what does Juneteenth mean to you?

I watched a really good documentary on Juneteenth and they mentioned how every decade since you're in teens black people will have become wealthier more educated and have more status in society. And so I think that's something worth celebrating. And I celebrate it every day and in the work that I do and so Juneteenth is just a great day to celebrate it nationwide.

To me, Juneteenth is a day of celebration - celebration of the empowerment of black people.