1050 Connecticut Ave NW, Ste. 500
Washington, DC 20035
1325 Avenue of the Americas, 28th Floor
NYC, NY 10019
917-821-3437
Our Federal tax ID is 86-2276658.
The Denyce Graves Foundation is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization.
MEET OUR SHARED VOICES COHORT MEMBERS
The Denyce Graves Foundation and the National Museum of African American History Present:
Outstanding Classical Vocal Artists You Need To Know
DGF BOARD OF DIRECTORS CONGRATULATE
THE INAUGURAL SHARED VOICES INSTITUTIONS AND STUDENTS
WHAT IS SHARED VOICES?
Shared Voices is an unprecedented collaboration between historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), top conservatories, and schools of music in the United States. This initiative is designed to address diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in a groundbreaking way. Through classes, individual lessons, coaching, rehearsals, performances, and peer-to-peer exchanges, participants will have access to expand their cultural horizons, develop networks, and gain new insights into potential opportunities for a fulfilling career. These singers will take ownership of their career trajectories in a classical vocal arts landscape; one that reflects the diverse world in which we live.
HIDDEN NO MORE
The Denyce Graves Foundation is invested in researching and educating the public about the remarkable stories of courage and persistence of artists who have largely gone unknown. We call these great musicians, Hidden Voices. From enriching our musical heritage to preparing the diverse pool of tomorrow’s vocal stars, DGF positively impacts how artists are valued in this nation, encouraging inclusive opportunity, access, and advocacy for the next generation.
Today, we celebrate the lives of these Hidden Voices:
EVENT SCHEDULE
Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History & Culture
Community Day: Hidden No More - Outstanding Classical Vocal Artists You Need to Know
Featuring the INAUGURAL COHORT OF THE DENYCE GRAVES FOUNDATION SHARED VOICES PROGRAM
With collaborative pianists FRANK CONLON and MARVIN MILLS
And a special appearance by THE UNITED STATES NAVY BAND WOODWIND QUINTET
11:00 AM | WELCOME
Smithsonian Leadership
Denyce Graves-Montgomery, Founder and Artistic Director
11:15 AM
TRAVIS GUILLORY, TENOR | Oberlin College and Conservatory of Music
JONATHAN WALTERS SUBER, TENOR | Howard University
The life and accomplishments of Robert Keith McFerrin, Sr.
Dancing in the Sun | John W. Work 1901 – 1967
City Called Heaven | arranged by Hall Johnson 1888 – 1970
An die Musik | Franz Schubert 1797 - 1828
The Lord's Prayer | Albert Malotte 1895 - 1964
11:30 AM
GIANNIE NGUYEN, SOPRANO | Johns Hopkins Peabody Institute
DARIUS JACKSON, BASS-BARITONE | Morgan State University
The life and accomplishments of Dorothy Maynor
Nuit d’étoiles | Claude Debussy 1862 – 1918
In the Springtime | Betty Jackson King 1928 – 1994
Du bist wie eine Blume | Robert Schumann 1810 – 1856
Deep River | arranged by Harry T. Burleigh 1866 – 1949
11:45 AM
KEVIN WEBB, TENOR | Morgan State University
Music across the ages; George Frideric Handel and William Grant Still
Total Eclipse from Samson | George Frideric Handel 1685 – 1759
Grief | William Grant Still 1895 – 1978
If You Should Go from Songs of Separation | William Grant Still
12:00 PM
SAVANNAH ROSE SKYE HIRST, SOPRANO | Johns Hopkins Peabody Institute
20th Century Trailblazers Undine Smith Moore, Florence Price, and Federico Torroba
Love Let the Wind Cry…How I Adore Thee | Undine Smith Moore 1904 – 1989
Song to the Dark Virgin | Florence Price 1887 – 1953
Tres horas antes del dia from La Marchenera | Federico Moreno Torroba 1891 – 1982
12:30 PM
THE UNITED STATES NAVY BAND WOODWIND QUINTET
Musicians: 1st Class Allison Fletcher, flute and Tyger Worosello, clarinet;
Chief Musicians Jennifer Stokes, bassoon and Joshua Arvizu, oboe;
and Musician 1st Class Nathaniel Willson, horn.
1:30 PM | WELCOME
Smithsonian Leadership
Denyce Graves-Montgomery, Founder and Artistic Director
1:45 PM
JOHN ARLIEVSKY, BARITONE | Johns Hopkins Peabody Institute
B'NATHANIEL ORLU, BARITONE | Morehouse College
The life and accomplishments of John McHenry Boatwright
The Negro Speaks of Rivers | Howard Swanson 1907 – 1978
from Songs of Sorrow | Samuel Coleridge-Taylor 1875 – 1912
When I am dead, my dearest
Oh, Roses for the flush of youth
I, Too from Three Dream Portraits | Margaret Bonds
Witness | arranged by Hall Johnson 1888 – 1970
Deh vieni alla finestra from Don Giovanni | Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 1756 – 1791
2:15 PM
MAURICE HARRINGTON, BARITONE | Morgan State University
Music across the ages; Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, H. Leslie Adams, and George Frideric Handel
Unmindful of the Roses from Six Songs of Sorrow | Samuel Coleridge-Taylor 1875 – 1912
Nightsong from Nightsong | H. Leslie Adams b. 1932
Honor and Arms from Samson | George Frideric Handel 1685 – 1759
2:30 PM
AVA PAUL, SOPRANO | Oberlin College and Conservatory of Music
The life and music of William Grant Still
Breath of a Rose
From The Hearts of Women
Little mother
Coquette
2:00 PM
ELISE GOLDEN, SOPRANO | Fisk University
The life and music of Undine Smith Moore and Florence Price
I Want to Die When You Love Me | Undine Smith Moore 1904 – 1989
My Soul’s Been Anchored in the Lord | arranged by Florence Price 1887 – 1953
3:00 PM
MEET THE ARTISTS
2:45 PM
ETHAN GODFREY, TENOR | Morehouse College
The life and accomplishments of Fred Thomas
E la solita storia del pastore from L’Arlesiana | Francesco Cilea 1866 – 1950
Gonna Shout All Over God’s Heaven | arranged by Uzee Brown, Jr. b. 1950
WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS OUR WORK THIS YEAR WOULD HAVE BEEN IMPOSSIBLE!
JOHN J. POHANKA FAMILY FOUNDATION TRUST
ERWIN L. GREENBERG CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
WITH MUCH GRATITUDE
HOW WE EXECUTE GREAT WORK
“It is critical that we recognize diverse voices in the classical vocal arts community. Having an organization like this which uncovers and celebrates persons of color in the field will be instrumental to developing young artists of all backgrounds.”
—Lonnie Bunch
Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution
Images from top to bottom: Opera glasses and case owned by Mary Church Terrell (Gift of Ray and Jean Langston in memory of Mary Church and Robert Terrell); Program for Porgy and Bess; Dress worn by Denyce Graves in Washington National Opera’s production of Carmen (Gift of Denyce Graves); Photograph of Marian Anderson, ©1947 Associated Publishers, Inc. (Gift of Jackie Bryant Smith) All courtesy of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture
The Denyce Graves Foundation & The METropolitan Opera
are excited to announce a customized learning series
Behind
the
Curtain
Met administrators from a variety of disciplines will teach students about the broad range of career opportunities within arts administration. The Metropolitan Opera will also provide coaches from its music staff to support a series of masterclasses on the campuses of the colleges, together with providing masterclasses at the Met.
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“The Metropolitan Opera is proud to support this new initiative of the Denyce Graves Foundation and to play an active role in providing greater educational opportunities for students at HBCUs and Conservatories.”
—Peter Gelb, General Manager, Metropolitan Opera
SHARED VOICES IS MADE POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF A VERY GENEROUS GIFT FROM THE FORD FOUNDATION
“A well-rounded and diverse education is the foundation we build upon to achieve our goals, and it’s crucial that all young people continue to have opportunities and access to build networks, exchange ideas, and expand their horizons. We are thrilled to partner with the legendary Denyce Graves, one of the greatest opera voices of a generation, to pave broader pathways for young artists of all backgrounds.”
DARREN WALKER
PRESIDENT, FORD FOUNDATION
WHY DGF MATTERS
The programs of the Denyce Graves Foundation (DGF) promote equity and inclusion in American classical vocal arts by championing the hidden musical figures of the past while uplifting young artists of world-class talent from all backgrounds and preparing them for a successful future.
Hidden Voices uncovers and celebrates the contributions of our nation’s outstanding musicians of color whose achievements are not widely known but have an important place in our evolving American cultural identity.
Generations addresses the often missed vulnerability in the careers of emerging artists; offering mentorships, advocacy, and access to top industry professionals, preparing these singers to take ownership of their career trajectories.
Shared Voices, DGF’s initiative to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, invites elite historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and conservatories to participate in a relationship that strives to create and encourage meaningful connections between consortium members – students, faculty, and administrators – that result in a greater awareness of the diversity within the classical vocal arts and culminate in a meaningful collaboration.
Through strategic partnerships and cross-industry alignments, DGF champions extensive research, world-class educational outreach, and freshly imagined commissioned works of art to commemorate the lives and accomplishments of historic artists long overlooked.
DGF’s philanthropic commitment brings awareness to projects aligning with its mission and core beliefs. In 2021, DGF raised money and awareness for the house that once served as Mary Cardwell Dawson’s National Negro Opera House; resulting in funding and pledges of over $6.5M and a partnership for future program development with the Pittsburgh Opera.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Denyce Graves-Montgomery
FOUNDER & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Marc Chazaud
PRESIDENT
Virginia McGehee Friend
PAST PRESIDENT
Don Franzen, Esq.
Ann Gottlieb
Warren Hansen
Barbara Harrison
Clyde Jones
Lee Koonce
Dr. Robert Montgomery
Tim O'Leary
Eric Owens
Ariana Rainbow, Esq.
SECRETARY
Matthew Robertson
Ryan Taylor
Aaron Urbanek
ADVISORY BOARD
Paul Gruber
Dr. Fredara Hadley
Dr. Ruby Hearn
L. Michelle Smith
Rosalyn Story
Maria Zouves
ARTISTIC BOARD
Markus Beam
Sherrill Milnes
Gene Scheer
Laura Ward
Howard Watkins
Brian Zeger
EDUCATION/
PROGRAM COMMITTEE
Dr. Naomi André
GENERATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR
Justin Bell
Dr. Karen Bryan
HIDDEN VOICES SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR
Dr. Fredara Hadley
Symone Harcum
Nicole Joy Mitchell
Dr. Gail Robinson-Oturu
George Shirley
Sandra Seaton
Ronald T. Smith
Damien Sneed
EDUCATION/PROGRAM COMMITTEE CHAIR
Dr. Louise Toppin