On Saturday, September 23 at 7:30 p.m.., two visiting choirs will perform a concert of music celebrating the poems of Langston Hughes. One of America’s greatest 20th- century poets, Hughes was an important figure in the Harlem Renaissance and made the African American experience the subject of his writings.
The Unsung Collective, conducted by Dr. Tyrone Clinton, Jr., and the Cerddorion Vocal Ensemble, conducted by Dr. James John, will join with pianist, Dr. Konstantza Chernov in Battell Chapel at Yale (400 College Street, New Haven). Featured works will be by William Averitt, Rosephanye Powell, Joel Thompson, Roland Carter, and Ricky Gordon, among others. The concert, which is free and open to the public, is sponsored by the Yale Institute of Sacred Music. View full details.
The Unsung Collective is a non-profit organization devoted to celebrating people of color in Western art music. Based in New York City, it performs music that navigates stories of both historic and current events, with aims to stretch the confines of music of the Western canon. The Collective is committed to fostering relationships through collaboration, and sharing art with its audiences, working with some of the World’s most prolific artists.
The Cerddorion Vocal Ensemble is one of New York’s most highly regarded volunteer choral ensembles. The group is known for its technical excellence, interpretive depth, and wide-ranging repertoire, spanning choral literature from the early Renaissance to world premieres. Cerddorion has been presenting outstanding performances of adventurous programs since 1995.
Dr. Konstantza Chernov is an active soloist, chamber musician and pianist who has performed extensively throughout the United States and Europe. She is also a current M.Div. student at the Yale Institute of Sacred Music and Yale Divinity School.
Image: From the Langston Hughes collection, 1942. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.