Daniel Bernard Roumain & Castle of our Skins
Daniel Bernard Roumain (DBR) is a prolific Black, Haitian-American composer and performer known for his signature violin sounds infused with myriad electronic and African-American music influences. For his Recomposing America project, ACF has co-commissioned a new work titled Black Joy Verses for Castle of our Skins, to be premiered in Fall 2026 at Boston Art & Music Soul (BAMS) Fest.
About the Commission
Black Joy Verses by Daniel Bernard Roumain explores Black agency, self-determination and creativity — highlighting and illuminating the virtuoso talents of orchestral musicians within a full body embrace of their expressive capabilities. The orchestra will play, speak, sing, shout, whisper, and produce sounds that express the soulful, loving, and powerful legacy of tragedy and triumph our collective American history continues to grapple with. The work will incorporate the writings of Frederick Douglas, Earnest Roumain (a contemporary of Frederick Douglas and relative to DBR), and bell hooks, principally concepts from their “All About Love,” a manual on how we all do and won’t love.
World Premiere
Fall 2026
Boston Art & Music Soul (BAMS) Fest
About Daniel Bernard Roumain
Daniel Bernard Roumain (DBR) is a Black, Haitian-American composer who sees composing as collaboration with artists, organizations and communities within the farming and framing of ideas. He is a prolific and endlessly collaborative composer, performer, educator, and social entrepreneur. “About as omnivorous as a contemporary artist gets” (New York Times), Roumain has worked with artists from J’Nai Bridges, Lady Gaga and Philip Glass to Bill T. Jones, Marin Alsop and Anna Deavere Smith.
Known for his signature violin sounds infused with myriad electronic and African-American music influences, Roumain takes his genre-bending music beyond the proscenium. He is a composer of solo, chamber, orchestral, and operatic works, and has composed an array of film, theater, and dance scores. He has composed music for the acclaimed film Ailey (Sundance official selection); was the first Music Director and Principal Composer with the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company; released and appeared on 30 album recordings; and has published over 300 works.
About Castle of our Skins
Castle of our Skins is a Black performing arts institution dedicated to fostering cultural curiosity and celebrating Black artistry through music. In classrooms, concert halls, and beyond, Castle of our Skins invites Black heritage and culture exploration, spotlighting both unsung and celebrated figures of past and present.
About BAMS Fest
Boston Art & Music Soul (BAMS) Fest, Inc is a nonprofit that breaks down racial and social barriers to arts, music, and culture across Greater Boston. Through edutainment (education + entertainment), strategic partnerships and cultural programming, it celebrates and supports both artists and audiences, with an emphasis on Black and Brown voices, perspectives, and artistry.
American Composers Forum’s ACF | connect program is made possible with the outstanding generosity of the following individuals: Jane Anfinson, Thomas Arneson, Suzanne Asher, Carol Barnett, Pearl and Bob Bergad, Margee and Will Bracken, Karen Brooks, Richard Cisek and Kay Fredericks, Dee Ann and Kent Crossley, Julia W. Dayton, C. Lee Essrig, Rosemary & David Good Family Foundation, Katherine Goodale, Jeff and Hyun Mee Graves, Carol Heen, Steve Heitzeg and Gwen Pappas, Kathleen Henschel and John Dewes, Linda and Jack Hoeschler, Leaetta Hough and Bob Muschewske, Sam Hsu and Sally Cheng, Hella Mears Hueg Estate Gift, Thelma Hunter Estate Gift, John and Ruth Huss, George Frederick Jewett Foundation East, Art and Martha Kaemmer, Jon Lewis and Lisa Merklin, Mike and Kay McCarthy, Greg McNeely, Alfred and Ann Moore, Louis and Gloria Nuechterlein, John Nuechterlein and Dan Monson, John and Debbie Orenstein, I.A. O’Shaughnessy Foundation in memory of Thelma Hunter, David and Judy Ranheim, Denice Rippentrop, Vanessa Rose, Bill and Susan Sands, Gale Sharpe, Doug and Kathy Skor, Dan and Ellie Thomas, Stephen and Jayne Usery, Kathleen van Bergen, Janika Vandervelde, Jim Wafler, and Margaret and Angus Wurtele.