From composer Carlos Simon, a “celebratory homage to Black joy” comes in the form of Good News Mass, making its world premiere at the Walt Disney Concert Hall on April 17 and 18, 2025. Marking the world premiere, Gustavo Dudamel himself will be conducting the concert, which should serve as more proof that there’s more than a bit of confidence floating around Simon’s new composition. Joining Dudamel and the LA Phil are Randall Goosby (violin), Zebulon Ellis (tenor), Jason White (choirmaster), and the Sunday Service Collective.

Tickets for the concert are available now. Similar to the many shows we write about, especially at the Walt Disney Hall, Grimy Goods will be giving away tickets to this concert. Subscribe to our newsletter and/ or follow Grimy Goods on Instagram for a chance to win a pair of tickets. The giveaway will be announced soon.

Words: David Sosa

Carlos Simon’s many narratives

Although there are decades upon decades of classical music that has built up over the years, that doesn’t mean there aren’t artists today pushing the boundaries. Uniquely, Carlos Simon is as inspired by the present day as he is by those who came before, with inspirations ranging from Beethoven to hip-hop. While Good News Mass—like its name would suggest—is a celebration, Simon’s previous work is often a reaction to issues that persist in the United States, whether it be the unarmed killings of Black people or the generational trauma from enslavement.

On the musical front, Simon doesn’t limit himself to the classical world. As an Atlanta native raised around gospel music, he has a way of pulling different reference points together that would otherwise be flimsy connections under the guidance of those less informed. However, the music is as important as the narratives and messages present in his compositions, making for a careful yet daring composer who challenges every aspect of classical music when possible.

The works of Bernstein and Price

Before the world premiere, Dudamel will play two pieces from Leonard Bernstein and Florence Price, two composers whose imprint inspired what would become Good News Mass. In the case of Bernstein, perhaps one of the most recognizable figures in the classical world of the 20th Century, his Mass was among the inspirations behind Simon’s Good News Mass. However, Dudamel will be conducting “Divertimento,” a later work in Bernstein’s life with as much personal significance as its artistic influence.

While Bernstein might be the more well-known of the two, Florence Price was an accomplished composer in her lifetime who worked in the first half of the 20th Century before being reappraised after her death. Price, the first Black woman recognized as a composer, was a trailblazer in her field despite various personal setbacks and obstacles that came as a result of the time. Her “Symphony No. 1 in E. Minor” was performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 1933, the first composition from a Black woman to be played by a major orchestra.

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An artist in dialogue

In Good News Mass, Simon is coming back to his roots fully formed. As the son of a preacher, gospel music left a lasting impression on his upbringing, so much so that he was not allowed to listen to any form of music. While he’s long made a career out of bringing various music genres to the forefront of classical music, Good News Mass is him looking to the past with a deep appreciation for his experiences––on his own terms.

While the Sunday Service Collective will more than help bring the piece to life, contributions from other artists such as Randall Goosby, Zebulon Ellis, and Jason White, as well as visuals from Two-time Grammy winner Melina Matsoukas—best known for directing the music videos for Rihanna’s “We Found Love” and Beyoncé’s “Formation”—will tie it all together. Even if you’re unfamiliar with Simon and the works of Bernstein and Price, the three composers’ deep respect for classical music and willingness to push it forward is near impossible to resist.