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 be one of the most talked about orchestras in the nation, as it continues to successfully bring orchestral music to a diverse audience 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 Time Warner, NBC Universal, Atlantic Records, Lionsgate, YouTube Music, BET, OWN Network, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and countless more. 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 been covered in prominent media publications such as Rolling Stone Magazine, Essence, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Atlanta Magazine, 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, Los Angeles and many more. 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, collaborating with hip-hop icon Rick Ross for an unforgettable, genre-defying performance. 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 in Atlanta and the British Columbia Arts Council in Vancouver, Canada.
 

In 2025, Orchestra Noir proudly performed at the inaugural Juneteenth Freedom Vibes Festival, launched ahead of the opening of the National Juneteenth Museum.
 

Since its inception, Orchestra Noir continues to be a meaningful advocate for music education by inspiring the next generation of young, minority musicians through various education-centered concerts including side-by-sides and children’s concerts. Most recently, Orchestra Noir completed a 3-day residency in Montgomery, AL which exposed underserved youth and aspiring young musicians to professional orchestral musicians of color.