Our Song,
Our Story
February 2 Thursday at 7:30 pm
EJ THOMAS HALL
A tribute to trailblazing Black voices
in classical music
Our Song, Our Story is more than just a group of musicians, it is a statement – a tribute that pays homage to trailblazers and voices who paved the way for today’s generation of Black opera singers.
Two of today’s most exciting operatic voices – soprano Jacqueline Echols and baritone Justin Austin – (backed by string quartet & piano) will bring you an evening of memorable and beautiful music, including works by Handel, Mozart, Puccini, Verdi, Gershwin, Harry T. Burleigh (on our series in 1919), Margaret Bonds, Richard Smallwood,
a newly commissioned work from Damien Sneed, and more.
Watch Our Song, Our Story perform.
WHAT THEY WILL PERFORM
Compositions by George Frederic Handel, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Giacomo Puccini, Giuseppi Verdi, Richard Strauss, George Gershwin, Margaret Bonds, Harry T. Burleigh, Richard Smallwood and a newly commissioned work from Damien Sneed.
ABOUT
OUR SONG, OUR STORY
Created and directed by composer, conductor, and multi-genre musician Damien Sneed, Our Song, Our Story is an evening of music highlighting some of the world’s most well-known operatic arias, art songs and spirituals. The concert brings together two of today’s most exciting operatic voices in a diverse and powerful event featuring Brandie Inez Sutton and Justin Austin accompanied by a string quartet and Damien Sneed on piano. Each singer brings their colorful artistry to the table with solo performances as well as duets and trios. This will be an evening of memorable and beautiful music as they pay homage to Marian Anderson and Jessye Norman, who have paved the way for them and other African American opera singers.
