Nakia Verner: A Celebration of the Afro-American Experience through Song
In person: $20 ($10 student) |
Stream: $15
- Nakia Verner, soprano
- Matthew Palumbo, piano
Moses Hogan — Selected works (arrangements of spirituals TBA)
This concert highlights the contributions of African-American composers, poets, and performers to the classical music world. The rich tradition of classical music is enhanced by the rich tradition of African-American storytelling. From Andre Previn's Honey and Rue (poetry by Toni Morrison) to the spiritual arrangements of Moses Hogan, we will explore those stories and experiences in a diverse program of contemporary art song and traditional spirituals.
The livestream link will be revealed to streaming participants 15 minutes before the show and will remain active through Mar. 3. In-person attendees will also receive a link to the recording to view for one week.
About Nakia Verner, soprano
South Carolina native Nakia Verner is praised for her sumptuous sound and spontaneous passion in recital performances and operatic portrayals which have delighted listeners from San Francisco to Rome. Nakia has degrees from Winthrop University, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville, and the Peabody Conservatory. Nakia graduated from The Catholic University of America with a D.M.A. in October 2014. Nakia has performed both the soprano and alto solo in the Verdi Requiem, Brahms Requiem, and the alto solo in Bach's Magnificat. She performed the role of the Countess in Le Nozze di Figaro, the title role in La Voix Humaine, Dottie in Finian's Rainbow, and Mother in Hansel and Gretel. She is the winner of the George Woodhead prize for Voice, and first place winner of both 2010 Washington Summer Opera Theatre Scholarship Competition and the 2012 CUA Concerto Competition. Ms. Verner made her debut with Maryland Lyric Opera as Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana in July 2014. In March 2016 and June 2017, Ms. Verner performed the Brahms' Alto Rhapsody with the Maryland Lyric Opera and the Piedmont Symphony Orchestra. Nakia played the role of Mother in Maryland Lyric Opera's production of Amahl and the Night Visitors in December 2016. Ms. Verner made her debut in the title role in Richard Strauss' Ariadne auf Naxos in Berlin, Germany in August of 2017. Dr. Verner has been featured in concert with the Peabody Symphony, Piedmont Symphony, Trinity Chamber Orchetra, CUA Symphony Orchestra, Patterns for the Arts, Maryland Opera Orchestra, and Rome Festival Opera.
https://www.nakiaverner.com/About Matthew Palumbo, piano
Accomplished pianist and teacher, Matthew J. Palumbo made his solo debut with the Seattle Philharmonic Orchestra at age thirteen as the winner of the Seattle Young Artists Music Festival. He has since won several competitions, performed across the United States and Europe, and is in high demand as a Teacher, Judge, Adjudicator, and Master Clinician throughout the Baltimore-D.C. Metro region. His students have received numerous awards and have been accepted with highest scholarships to Peabody, University of Maryland, Towson, Howard, Susquehanna, and others. Mr. Palumbo is an Assistant Professor at the Community College of Baltimore County and has been Concert Manager since 2019, where he is especially proud of their incredibly diverse music forum series.