Orchestra Noir

Orchestra Noir was founded in 2016 by Maestro Jason Ikeem Rodgers. Through orchestral performance, Orchestra Noir celebrates the cultural achievements of African-American music pioneers across all genres of music including classical, jazz, blues, hip-hop, and R&B. Orchestra Noir has witnessed a meteoric rise to become one of the most talked about orchestras in the nation, continuing to bring orchestral music to diverse audiences in grand and spectacular fashion. ​

Awarded “Best of Atlanta: Classical Meets Contemporary” by Atlanta Magazine, Orchestra Noir has worked on projects with global brands such as Warner Bros. Discovery, NBCUniversal, Atlantic Records, Lionsgate, YouTube Music, BET, OWN Network, and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, among many others. In addition, Orchestra Noir has collaborated with international hip-hop stars including 2 Chainz, Migos, Trina, Trick Daddy, and Bryan-Michael Cox. Orchestra Noir has also been featured in prominent media publications including Rolling Stone, Essence, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, CBS, and many more. ​

In addition to its birthplace of Atlanta, Orchestra Noir has brought its sold-out performances to major cities across the country, including Houston, New Orleans, Chicago, New York City, and Los Angeles. Notably, the orchestra has also performed alongside the Charlotte Symphony for the critically acclaimed “Beethoven Meets 90s Vibe” concert. Orchestra Noir also made history as the first U.S. orchestra to present Red Bull Symphonic, delivering an unforgettable, genre-defying performance. Orchestra Noir also headlined the annual King of Soul Music Festival presented by the Otis Redding Foundation. Beyond the stage, the orchestra was selected to create original compositions by Maestro Jason Ikeem Rodgers for prestigious institutions including the High Museum of Art and the British Columbia Arts Council in Vancouver, Canada. ​

In 2025, Orchestra Noir proudly performed at the inaugural Juneteenth Freedom Vibes Festival, a landmark cultural celebration honoring Black music, freedom, and artistic excellence held in conjunction with the opening of the National Juneteenth Museum. ​

Since its inception, Orchestra Noir has remained a meaningful advocate for music education by inspiring the next generation of young minority musicians through residencies, side-by-sides, youth rehearsal sit-ins, and education-centered performances designed to expose underserved communities to professional orchestral musicians of color.