The String Queens Are Rewriting Classical Music And Exploring What It Means To Be Black, Free & ‘Troubled’ In America [Exclusive]

This mid-summer stretch has always been a time of dual consciousness. We simultaneously celebrate the hard-won victories of our freedom while navigating the glaring, systemic, and often turbulent realities of our present. It is a season that begs us to look inward and ask a fundamental question: What does liberty actually mean when the ground beneath us still feels so fundamentally unstable? If you are looking for an instrumental soundtrack to help untangle that very question, look no further than the Washington, D.C.-based string trio, The String Queens.

Comprised of violinist Kendall Isadore, violist Dawn Johnson, and cellist Élise Sharp, this dynamic force of Black womanhood has spent nearly a decade captivating audiences nationwide. They have built an esteemed reputation for bridging the gaps between classical virtuosity, jazz, gospel, blues, and contemporary R&B. On Juneteenth 2026, the trio stepped boldly into a brand-new chapter of their legacy. They unveiled their first-ever original composition, “Troubled Liberty,” the powerful lead single from their highly anticipated album, What We Carry.

When the trio recently spoke with MadameNoire, their warmth, intellect, and collective brilliance were immediately palpable. They are women who wear many hats— touring musicians, wives, mothers, and dedicated educators. Yet, when they pick up their instruments, they become musical storytellers. In “Troubled Liberty,” they have created a gorgeous, haunting, and ultimately triumphant dialogue about what it means to be Black, free, and watchful in America today.

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