The African American Art Song Alliance 25th Anniversary Conference

I have been home from the 25th anniversary conference for the African American Art Song Alliance three days now and am still perpetually on the verge of residual tears for what an ineffably beautiful experience it was for me. The beginnings of this endeavor to attend and participate in the conference come mostly with what… Continue reading The African American Art Song Alliance 25th Anniversary Conference

Living Memory: Mary Watkins and Emmett Till, the Opera

About three months ago, just about everyone engaged with the opera world noticed the blip on the radar of the universe that was the backlash against Emmett Till, the Opera. The uproar was over the background of the librettist (essentially, that she’s White) and a narrative– ostensibly about the traumatic and horrific murder of the… Continue reading Living Memory: Mary Watkins and Emmett Till, the Opera

Worth It

Once upon a time I had the opportunity to sing for a prominent American composer, courtesy of connections from a woman high in arts administration who’d come to like me at the time as I was interning for her. I was still in my undergrad, looking for my voice, also immersed in pageantry during my… Continue reading Worth It