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FREE public event (with free and ample parking!)Hartford Chorale will host Grammy-Winning Baritone Kenneth Overton to present a program about the evolution of African American music in America. Mr. Overton will engage the audience in conversation about how the Negro Spiritual inspired the music that came after it–church music, art song, and Broadway.
Interspersed throughout the evening, he will perform works and share the impact made by past and present African American composers such as Florence Price, Margaret Bonds, Adolphus Hailstork, William Grant Still, Dave Ragland, Timothy Amukele and Brandon Waddles, and give the audience an opportunity to ask him questions about the content to further their understanding.
“A Spiritual Journey: Singing the Black Experience of America” celebrates resilience, creativity, and the enduring spirit that continues to inspire generations. This journey follows the evolution from the Negro Spiritual to today’s Broadway, emphasizing that through music, the Black experience is embraced and honored, weaving a tapestry of hope, struggle, and triumph.
Mr. Overton is an internationally acclaimed baritone who has performed leading and supporting roles in major opera companies and with symphonies around the world. A passionate educator, he has offered masterclasses in vocal performance and on various topics of African American music at several universities and high schools. A Philadelphia native, Mr. Overton was educated at both Hartt and UConn, and spent significant time performing with Connecticut Opera, which he credits as the place where he honed his craft.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Asylum Hill Congregational Church, 814 Asylum Ave, Hartford, CT 06105-2805, United States,Hartford, Connecticut
