About this Event
In the West African tradition, the Adinkra symbol of “Sankofa” depicts a bird with its
head turned backwards while its feet face forward carrying a precious egg in its mouth.
The word itself means “go back and fetch it” and is further understood as “looking
back to move forward”.
As the culminating event of the inaugural Sonora Cultura Initiative, the concert features music from a variety of genres and cultures performed by leading artists and emerging artists in opera and classical crossover representing the 105 Voices of History National HBCU Choir and the Nashville Bel Canto Foundation.
Join us for an evening of brilliant artistry and celebration of our collective histories in the city that has welcomed so much of the world to this country.
2026 SANKOFA SOUNDS ARTISTS
- Patrick Dailey, countertenor, artistic director of the 105 VoH and concert curator
- Katy Lee, soprano, Nashville Bel Canto Academy Alumni
- Rachel Filmore, soprano, HBCU-Italian Diction Academy Alumna
- Gary Mitchell, Jr., collaborative pianist and bass
- Soloman Howard, bass, Celebrity Guest Artist and Host
Featured Guest Artist to be announced
ABOUT THE SONORA CULTURA INITIATIVE
The 105 Voices–NBCF collaboration brings together two organizations with distinct cultural and artistic traditions to create transformative opportunities for young singers.
Through training, mentorship, and performance, the expands artistic horizons, deepens mutual understanding, and showcases how different musical styles and cultural perspectives can work toward a shared goal: the creation of great art.
Bel canto, with its centuries- old tradition of beauty of sound and expressive phrasing, and the rich legacy of music by composers of African descent—rooted in resilience, innovation, and cultural pride—may come from different worlds, but they share a fundamental truth: both require discipline, artistry, and emotional honesty to connect with audiences.
This collaboration gives students the tools and experiences to excel in both traditions, proving that diversity in art is not a division but a strength.
The official collaboration was publicly announced at the New York premiere of Sankofa Project: A Journey Through Black Music and Artistry in September of 2025 at Madison Avenue Baptist Church.
ABOUT THE "105 VOICES OF HISTORY"
Established in 2008 under the vision of Renata “Toni” Roy-Pinkney, the 105 Voices of History National HBCU Choir is the first and only entity of its kind. The 105 VoH is an artistic and educational platform that unites talented student vocalists from across all Historically Black Colleges and Universities nationwide into one powerful, collective voice.
With a multidisciplinary approach to learning and growth, the training of the 105 VoH goes beyond singing to develop the whole student and includes life and career development in health and wellness, financial literacy, musicianship, and performance techniques.
The 105 VoH also provides experiences for HBCU choral and vocal faculty.It is only through this collective body that conductors are bestowed the title of National HBCU Conductor with voice faculty recognized as National Vocal Clinicians and Gala Artists.
The 105 Voices of History debuted on September 8, 2008 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in a sold-out featured concert hosted by Ms. Phylicia Rashad with guest artist, Jeff Major.
Notable performances include a historic featured concert at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, TN, MLK50 Commemoration at the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, TN, the 2024 Phoenix Awards of the Congressional Black Caucus in Washington, D.C., the 10th Harry T. Burleigh Spirituals Festival in Celebration of the composer’s 160th in Erie, PA, and international concerts in Medellin, Colombia and the Bahamas.
Artists and legends such as Shirley Caeser, Jennifer Holliday, Tom Joyner, Cathy Hughes, Louise Toppin, Damien Sneed, Wintley Phipps, Ben Tankard, and Wynonna Judd have all been featured with the organization.
The 105 VoH also presents the National HBCU Vocal Competition in partnership with leading opera companies such as Washington National Opera and Nashville Opera. Alumni of the 105 VoH have gone on to have impressive careers in opera, musical theatre, the recording industry, education, and business with many returning to serve on faculty at HBCUs. For more information, visit www.105hbcu.com
ABOUT THE NASHVILLE BEL CANTO FOUNDATION
The Nashville Bel Canto Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the next generation of classical singers by providing exceptional, tuition-free training and performance opportunities. Founded by Italian diction coach Stefano Baldasseroni, the Foundation brings together leading professionals from the international opera world to help young artists bridge the often difficult transition from academic study to a professional career.
Our partnership with 105 Voices of History grew from a shared belief that music education is most powerful when it creates connections across cultures, traditions, and communities.
As part of this collaboration, Stefano Baldasseroni offers a free Italian diction course to singers from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) participating in 105 Voices.
One of those students is then selected to attend the Nashville Bel Canto Foundation’s Opera Scenes Intensive, also completely tuition-free, where they work alongside other emerging opera singers in an intensive professional training environment.
The exchange also works in the other direction. Each year, a participant from the Nashville Bel Canto Foundation is selected to join the Sankofa Project, where they explore and perform music by African American composers and encounter a musical tradition that may be outside their previous training and experience.
For the November 20 concert, the Nashville Bel Canto Foundation will be represented by Kyungeun “Katy” Lee, a Korean-born soprano and participant in our 2026 Opera Scenes Intensive. In addition to immersing herself in the music and legacy of African American composers through Sankofa, Katy will share music from her own Korean heritage.
This is at the heart of our collaboration: a genuine cross-cultural exchange in which young artists learn not only how to sing one another’s music, but also something about the history, language, culture, and human experience from which that music emerged.
Whether a piece was written in Italy, Korea, the United States, or anywhere else, and regardless of the background of its composer, music ultimately serves the same purpose: to communicate, to tell our stories, and to connect one human being to another.
Through our partnership with 105 Voices of History and the Sankofa Project, we hope to give young singers the opportunity to discover that connection firsthand and carry it with them into their lives and careers.
Event venue & nearby stays
Madison Avenue Baptist Church, Madison Avenue, New York, NY, USA, United States
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.