Name: Freedom Melody
Start: 2025-10-29T19:00:00-07:00
End: 2025-10-29T20:00:00-07:00
Location: Schoenberg Hall

THIS EVENT HAS PASSED

Oct 29 2025

Man holding a tenor saxophone above his head

jazz

Schoenberg Hall

What does freedom mean in a globalized but fractured world? South African saxophonist and composer Steve Dyer brings his acclaimed quartet to Lani Hall for the West Coast premiere of Freedom Melody 2025. Featuring six vocalists from the UCLA Global Jazz Studies program, this powerful concert reimagines the spirit of the groundbreaking 1985 Freedom Melody festival, when musicians from across southern Africa gathered in defiance of apartheid. Blending the region’s rich vocal and instrumental traditions with contemporary jazz, Freedom Melody 2025 is both a tribute and a call to imagine freedom anew.

Freedom Melody 2025 is the newest project from Steve Dyer, who himself attended the 1985 Freedom Melody festival. Heralded as one of the world's great jazz artists, Dyer has released ten albums under his name and pursued collaborative projects that span continents.

"Steve Dyer ... is a visionary, a pioneer and a symbol of a new Africa."
-Cue Magazine

Read an interview with Steve Dyer

Like most of The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music’s programs, this event is FREE! Register in advance for this event via the link below. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the event. Seating is on a first-come, first-seated basis. Early arrival is recommended. Registrants receive priority up until 15 minutes before the event, and after that time any open seats will be released to patrons on our waitlist.

While Inside the Venue:

No Food or Drink allowed in the theater.

RSVP

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Ticketing

This event is FREE! No RSVP required. Early arrival is recommended.

PARKING

Self-service parking is available at UCLA’s Parking Structure #2 for events in Schoenberg Music Building and the Evelyn and Mo Ostin Music Center. Visitor parking is marked by a green circle and the letter “P” and is on the lower levels (do not go up the ramp to levels 3-7). Costs range from $4 for 1 hour to $15 for all day. Evening rates (after 4 p.m.) are $3-$6 for 1 to 2 hours and $12 for all night. Learn more about campus parking.

ACCESSIBILITY

The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music is eager to provide a variety of accommodations and services for access and communications. If you would like to request accommodations, please do so 10 days in advance of the event by emailing ADA@schoolofmusic.ucla.edu or calling (310) 825-0174.

PHOTOGRAPHY

The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music welcomes visitors to take non‐flash, personal‐use photography except where noted. Share your images with us @UCLAalpert / #UCLAalpert on Twitter + Instagram + Facebook

FOOD & DRINK

Food and drink may not be carried into the theaters. Thank you!

Acknowledgment

The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music acknowledges the Gabrielino/Tongva peoples as the traditional land caretakers of Tovaangar (the Los Angeles basin and So. Channel Islands). As a land grant institution, we pay our respects to the Honuukvetam (Ancestors), ‘Ahiihirom (Elders) and ‘Eyoohiinkem (our relatives/relations) past, present and emerging.

We would also like to acknowledge the impact on our city and community of the recent wildfires and their aftermath. We believe that art and scholarship can provide comfort in times of great suffering.