Vocal Works Celebrating African Queens: A Dazzling Collaboration of Music and Storytelling
Touring in recital in the 25/26 season, this brilliantly curated program, featuring music by both African and American composers, vividly represents vocal works of the past and present. Each song reflects the beauty, humility, passion, and power of the Queens being celebrated.
The evening centers eight new songs written for Karen by some of today’s most acclaimed composers- Jasmine Barnes, Damien Geter, Jessie Montgomery, Shawn Okpebholo, Dave Ragland, Carlos Simon, and Joel Thompson with text by Lorene Cary, Alicia Haymer, Tsitsi Ella Jaji, Deborah D.E.E.P Mouton and Creative Collaborator for the African Queens project Jay Saint Flono.
Each new, approximately 6-8 minute vocal work will focus on a different queen, and the connective tissue between each story and song will be woven together through interspersed narrative text.
Concert Program
Dave Ragland: Precatio*
Carlos Simon: Behold, The Queen*
Dave Ragland: The Queen of Sheba*
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor: A Prayer from African Romances, Op. 17, No. 3
Florence Price: Night
Fred Onovwerosuoke: Luwah (Bitter Tears)
Damien Geter: Amanirenas*
*****
Fred Onovwerosuoke: Duniya (Mystic Universe)
Jasmine Barnes: I Am Not Your God*
Jessie Montgomery: The Song of Nzingha*
Will Liverman: Incantation
Joel Thompson: Queen Nanny*
Shawn Okpebholo: A Letter From Queen Ufua*
*commissioned for African Queens
Contact Us
We invite you to contact us now about finding a date to bring African Queens to your series in the 2025/26 season.