CAAPA Set to Showcase Master Class initiative with opera singers at HBCUs with virtual panel

WASHINGTON - July 9, 2020 - PRLog -- The Coalition for African Americans in the Performing Arts (CAAPA) a Washington, D.C. area arts advocacy group will be featured in a virtual panel highlighting its MasterClass Series™ via Facebook Live on Tuesday, July 14 at 11:00 a.m. EDT.  In the organization's efforts to diversify audiences, opera houses and concert stages, this special series provide extraordinary music opportunities to the music programs of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in which world-renowned Black Opera Singers are presented before the students as a "Music Master." The students then have the opportunity to get suggestions and sing before these outstanding artists, all of which have performed on some of the greatest stages of the world.

In discussion with arts journalist Patrick D. McCoy, the panel for this initiative spotlight will feature some of the world-renowned opera singers who have participated as Music Masters at the various universities, including the inimitable tenor George Shirley, sopranos Angela Renee Simpson, Angela Brown, Lisa Daltrius, N'Kenge Pacurar, tenor Issachah Savage and bass Morris Robinson. Tenor Tshombe Selby, a graduate of the noted HBCU Elizabeth City State University will join as a special guest, sharing about his journey from Metropolitan Opera usher to singing on the great stage and the contributions of the HBCU experience in regards to his successes.  Additionally acclaimed singers mezzo-soprano J'Nai Bridges, soprano Jayme Alilaw and baritone Robert Sims have all been featured as Music Masters.  The presentation will stream from the Coalition for African Americans in the Performing Arts Facebook page, as well as various pages on the site.

Active members of the board and the inspiration behind the initiative include the legendary Metropolitan Opera tenor George Shirley and current opera luminaries soprano Angela Renee Simpson and tenor Issachah Savage.  As a part of CAAPA's commitment to supporting classical music education and artists throughout the United States and abroad, the MasterClass Series™ offers students, emerging, and aspiring musicians the opportunity to encounter these great artists in an intimate setting.

Participating schools have included:
Catwaba College
Clinton College
Clark Atlanta University
Fisk University
Hampton University
Howard University
Jackson State University
Lane College
Livingstone College
Morehouse College
Morgan State University
Morris Brown College
Norfolk State University
Southern University
Spelman College
Texas Southern University
Touglaoo College
University of Kentucky
University of North Carolina
University of South Carolina
Virginia State University
Winston-Salem State University
Xavier University

VISIT https://4caapa.org/

The MasterClass Series™is sponsored with support by the National Endowment of the Arts.