Hope is a Song: A Concert with Melvin Kindall Myles and Rabbi Micah Lapidus

As a part of our observance of MLK Day, join renowned vocalist and musical storyteller Melvin Kindall Myles and composer and educator, Rabbi Micah Lapidus for an unforgettable concert where music builds bridges between communities, traditions, and hearts.

Through powerful songs, personal stories, and thoughtful conversation, they explore the longstanding relationship between the Black and Jewish communities, reflecting on themes of faith, justice, resilience, and human connection.

Melvin Kindall Myles is a vocalist, musical storyteller, and cultural convener whose artistry draws from Gospel, Jazz, Blues, Folk, and Classical traditions. A graduate of Jackson State University, he has built a reputation for performances that combine technical excellence with emotional authenticity, inviting audiences into experiences of reflection, healing, and hope.
Melvin has performed at Carnegie Hall, Washington National Cathedral, Central Synagogue, and churches and civic religious institutions throughout the United States. His work combines artistic authenticity, spiritual depth, and a commitment to fostering understanding across communities and cultures. His work extends beyond performance into community engagement, interfaith collaboration, and cultural programming through his leadership of the Creative Arts Empowerment Network (CAEN).
Whether singing sacred repertoire, jazz standards, original compositions, or civic-minded works, Melvin is committed to using music as a force for connection. His performances create space for people of diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences to encounter one another through the shared language of song.

Rabbi Micah Lapidus is an educator, musician, composer, and community leader who serves as Founder and Executive Director of The Institute for Human Connection, a nonprofit dedicated to developing innovative interventions that address the loneliness epidemic and strengthen meaningful relationships. He is also Rabbi Emeritus of The Alfred & Adele Davis Academy, the largest Reform Jewish day school in North America, where he helped shape a vibrant culture of Jewish learning, values, and community. Ordained by Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion and holding a doctorate in Jewish Educational Leadership, Rabbi Micah is passionate about helping people connect to one another, to Jewish tradition, and to lives of purpose and meaning. Together with longtime collaborator Melvin Myles, he forms Lapidus & Myles, a musical partnership that blends soulful melodies, inspiring messages, and a commitment to building bridges across communities. Their performances invite audiences into experiences of hope, healing, justice, and shared humanity—values that resonate deeply with the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.