Faculty and students in the Mrs. H.D. Dear Sr. and Alice E. Dear School of Creative and Performing Arts at Northwestern State University will present a Lift Every Voice recital on Monday, Feb. 7 at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall. Admission is free and open to the public. University COVID protocols will be in effect. Those attending are asked to wear a mask. A livestream of the concert will be available at capa.nsula.edu/livestream.

The concert is part of the Celebration of Diversity Recital Series and is designed to feature the voice works of Black composers, according to NSU Assistant Professor of Voice Robert E. Cardwell.

“Until recently, this community of composers has been pushed to the side, or all together ignored,” said Cardwell. “Now, we are starting to see substantial representation of BIPOC people throughout all levels and facets within the arts, whether it be the performing artists on stage, the artistic staff behind the scenes, or those in positions of leadership.”

The recital will feature CAPA faculty members sopranos Juliana Handy and Dr. Marcy McKee and Dan Ley on piano.  Students who will perform are Jayvian Bush and Emilie Comeaux of Lafayette, Bethany Coleman of Shreveport, Brooke Jones of St. Rose, Jaylin Moore of Leesville, Dilen Smith of Pineville, India Turner of Lake Charles and Jaeli Williams of Alexandria.

“Music organizations around the country are producing programs which include operas and art songs by Black composers which give some insight into the Black American experience,” said Cardwell. “The arts as a whole are beginning to acknowledge the inequity in our field regarding the BIPOC and Latinx communities and are consistently developing ways to create a positive and permanent change for the better. It is my hope that this recital will serve as a vehicle to create a broader audience for this incredible music and bring awareness to the life experiences of the Black community to our voice students and our audience.”