The Opera about Fannie Lou Hamer
Photo by www.ireneyoungfoto.com
After reading numerous articles about our shorter than short attention spans, I’ve decided to split this, the August 2024 Classical Music in Color into two parts. It may be a permanent fixture. Let me know what you think.
The first part is an interview with 85 year old composer Mary D. Watkins who’s about to premiere her latest opera “Is This America” about the Mississippi Civil Rights leader Fannie Lou Hamer.
Mary D. Watkins is a Colorado native who earned a degree in classical composition from Howard University in Washington, DC. She started getting noticed later in life. She won a Female Composer grant from Opera America in 2020, has previously won composer fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, along with various other grants. AND She received a 2021 Artist Legacy Award from the California Arts Council. She was also recognized with a 2022 Composers Now Visionary Award. She says her composition of this opera was a long time coming.
The Second part of this, the August 2024 edition of Classical Music In Color is what I’m calling for now, the Albums, Opportunities, Events and Milestone section of the show.
Here are the links:
Black Violin Foundation Grants
