Jess Garland graced our inaugural Zora Neale Hurston Summit with stunning original songs, and enchanted guests with her harp performance during our VIP Reception, sponsored by Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated. Now we offer you this special performance to enjoy Jess’s gift.

A special thank you to the Oak Cliff Cultural Center and Dallas Arts & Culture for sponsoring Jess’s participation, making our celebration of Zora even more extraordinary.

Jess Garland is a Dallas-based singer-songwriter, multi-disciplinary, recording and performing artist. She is a multi-instrumentalist who combines harp and guitar loops to evoke her unique brand of celestial avant-garde pop with ethereal jazz tones. In October 2024, Garland received the Visit Dallas Maverick, Can-Do Spirit Award for Arts & Entertainment. Jess most recently shared a stage with Dr. Opal Lee and Erykah Badu for the Juneteenth Freedom Walk in Fair Park. She has also shared stages with Kam Franklin, The Suffers, Bayou City Comeback Chorus, Lisa E. Harris, Illharmonic Orchestra, MNDSGN, A.J. Haynes, The Seratones, Jackie Venson, Adia Victoria, Gingger Shankar and others. Garland produced and performed in the 22-23 season of the Elevator Project at the Wyly Theatre debuting her 3D printed laser harp. Jess performed and presented a talk for TEDx titled, Facing The Music: Finding Your Purpose in October 2022. In November 2024, Jess produced and performed in the biennial Aurora Festival debuting her installation and premiering her new film, “Behind the Strings: Amplifying Black Feminism in Guitar Culture.” In May 2021, Jess released “Harp & Sol” which is an art film and music composition focusing on environmental racism in Dallas and Black feminism. Jess co-produced the film and composed music for Their Lives Mattered: A Dialogue Honoring Stolen Lives by Dallas law enforcement. Garland was awarded the Local Legend award in Nashville, TN from Wild Turkey’s Creative Director, Matthew McConaughey for keeping music alive in Dallas. Jess is also the President and Founding Director of Swan Strings. Founded in 2019, Swan String is a 501c3 nonprofit organization with a mission to provide free music education, community concerts and sound therapy services to North Texas individuals without access. Jess is also the organizer at Girls Rock Dallas and is a member of the Recording Academy.

Learn more about Jess at https://www.jessstrings.com/