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Highlighted Community Events
Triangle Friends of African American Arts
African American Theater Preview
January 19, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Celebrate the rich and diverse season of African American theater in the Triangle! The Triangle Friends of African American Arts is bringing together several performing arts organizations to showcase the wonderful African American plays and musicals that will hit the stages in 2025. This special evening will include dramatic readings, songs and scenes from upcoming performances. General admission tickets are $25. Presented in partnership with the Raleigh Little Theatre.
Raleigh Little Theatre
301 Pogue Street
Raleigh, NC 27607
www.raleighlittletheatre.org
Overview of Performances
Photo by Bruce dePyssler
African American Theater Preview
January 19, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Celebrate the rich and diverse season of African American theater in the Triangle! The Triangle Friends of African American Arts is bringing together several performing arts organizations to showcase the wonderful African American plays and musicals that will hit the stages in 2025. This special evening will include dramatic readings, songs and scenes from upcoming performances. General admission tickets are $25. Presented in partnership with the Raleigh Little Theatre.
Raleigh Little Theatre
301 Pogue Street
Raleigh, NC 27607
www.raleighlittletheatre.org
Overview of Performances
- Agape Theatre Project - Plenty of Time
- Black Poetry Theatre - Saints and Aints
- Burning Coal Theatre - Paint Me This House of Love
- Li V Mahob Theatre Company - The Old Settler
- PlayMakers Repertory Company - Confederates
- Pure Life Theatre - August Wilson's Jitney
- Raleigh Little Theatre - Akeelah and the Bee
- Raleigh Little Theatre - The Color Purple
- The Justice Theater Project - Fairview
- Theatre Raleigh - Once on This Island
Photo by Bruce dePyssler
Matthew Whitaker
January 24, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Pianist Matthew Whitaker is a star on the rise. This three-time Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composers Award winner has played the Apollo Theater, The Today Show, 60 Minutes and is an advocate for people with disabilities. With his exceptional talent and his effortless charm, a concert with Matthew is a sheer delight. Matthew’s musical journey began at age three with a keyboard, a gift from his grandfather, and now he’s captivating audiences across the globe. He’s collaborated with giants in jazz like Regina Carter, Jon Batiste and Christian McBride. His remarkable gift for music has even prompted scientific research on his brain. Come be a part of jazz history in the making!
Admission: $35+
NC State LIVE
Stewart Theatre in Talley Student Union
2610 Cates Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27695
(919) 513-3030
https://live.arts.ncsu.edu
Matthew Whitaker
January 24, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Pianist Matthew Whitaker is a star on the rise. This three-time Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composers Award winner has played the Apollo Theater, The Today Show, 60 Minutes and is an advocate for people with disabilities. With his exceptional talent and his effortless charm, a concert with Matthew is a sheer delight. Matthew’s musical journey began at age three with a keyboard, a gift from his grandfather, and now he’s captivating audiences across the globe. He’s collaborated with giants in jazz like Regina Carter, Jon Batiste and Christian McBride. His remarkable gift for music has even prompted scientific research on his brain. Come be a part of jazz history in the making!
Admission: $35+
NC State LIVE
Stewart Theatre in Talley Student Union
2610 Cates Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27695
(919) 513-3030
https://live.arts.ncsu.edu
JP Jermaine Powell—Leadership Reimagined: Share Your Journey
On view until March 9, 2024
Leadership Reimagined encapsulates the journey of JP Jermaine Powell as artist in residence at the North Carolina Museum of Art. Throughout the exhibition he reflects on and pays tribute to the remarkable work of NCMA staff, critically acclaimed artists, and everyday heroes who have dedicated themselves to making the local art scene vibrant and productive. Free Admission.
North Carolina Museum of Art
2110 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh
www.ncartmuseum.com
On view until March 9, 2024
Leadership Reimagined encapsulates the journey of JP Jermaine Powell as artist in residence at the North Carolina Museum of Art. Throughout the exhibition he reflects on and pays tribute to the remarkable work of NCMA staff, critically acclaimed artists, and everyday heroes who have dedicated themselves to making the local art scene vibrant and productive. Free Admission.
North Carolina Museum of Art
2110 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh
www.ncartmuseum.com
Blog Highlight
William Henry Curry --
The Life of an African American Conductor
(Excerpt from Blog Post)
William Henry Curry’s journey is one of immense talent, resilience, and passion. As a composer, professor, and conductor of the Durham Symphony Orchestra, Curry’s story is a testament to overcoming racial barriers and pursuing one’s dreams. He attributes his drive to a profound love for classical music, a love that pushed him through significant challenges in his career. Growing up in a lower-middle-class family in Pittsburgh, Curry and his brother Ralph, a cellist in the Cleveland Orchestra, faced financial struggles that initially limited their musical opportunities. However, their family's rich musical heritage, including their maternal grandfather's role in opera and their paternal grandmother’s scholarship to the New England Conservatory, paved the way for their success.
Despite early obstacles, Curry’s determination led him to study at the Oberlin Conservatory, where he honed his craft. His professional breakthrough came when, at the age of 21, he was thrust into conducting Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony on very short notice, a performance that catapulted his career. Yet, his path was not without resistance; Curry faced blatant racial discrimination, including rejections due to his race and being told by a concert manager that he couldn’t be promoted because of he was African American. Despite these setbacks, Curry has persevered, achieving incredible success, including conducting major American orchestras and winning the prestigious Leopold Stokowski Conducting Competition. He remains a beacon of inspiration, shaping future musicians and breaking barriers for African Americans in the classical music world.
By Sherri Holmes, Triangle FAAA Founder & Director
The Life of an African American Conductor
(Excerpt from Blog Post)
William Henry Curry’s journey is one of immense talent, resilience, and passion. As a composer, professor, and conductor of the Durham Symphony Orchestra, Curry’s story is a testament to overcoming racial barriers and pursuing one’s dreams. He attributes his drive to a profound love for classical music, a love that pushed him through significant challenges in his career. Growing up in a lower-middle-class family in Pittsburgh, Curry and his brother Ralph, a cellist in the Cleveland Orchestra, faced financial struggles that initially limited their musical opportunities. However, their family's rich musical heritage, including their maternal grandfather's role in opera and their paternal grandmother’s scholarship to the New England Conservatory, paved the way for their success.
Despite early obstacles, Curry’s determination led him to study at the Oberlin Conservatory, where he honed his craft. His professional breakthrough came when, at the age of 21, he was thrust into conducting Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony on very short notice, a performance that catapulted his career. Yet, his path was not without resistance; Curry faced blatant racial discrimination, including rejections due to his race and being told by a concert manager that he couldn’t be promoted because of he was African American. Despite these setbacks, Curry has persevered, achieving incredible success, including conducting major American orchestras and winning the prestigious Leopold Stokowski Conducting Competition. He remains a beacon of inspiration, shaping future musicians and breaking barriers for African Americans in the classical music world.
By Sherri Holmes, Triangle FAAA Founder & Director
Disclaimer:
Community event details are manually gathered from submissions and online sources. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, we recommend visiting the websites of the presenting organizations, most of our listings are directly linked to them.
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