Harlem Collective partners with the New York Public Library of the Performing Arts to inspire literacy throughout the city, state & nation. The New York Library of the Performing Arts hosts a two-day outreach campaign. That includes live performances, and educational workshops featuring award-winning African American composer William “Bill” Banfield.
Did you know that opera boosts literacy and numeracy? Through this partnership, we will inspire literacy by sharing our musical productions and educational workshops. This partnership will be promoted throughout all the New York Public Libraries across all boroughs.
Our workshop featuring award-winning composer William “Bill” Banfield provides the city with a complimentary experience. This hour-long workshop will teach the audience about the foundations of opera. Providing a sneak peek into the world of opera, more specifically, what it takes to orchestrate an opera. Providing an opportunity to bring to life the works discussed during the workshop.
The two-day event on October 25 & 26, 2024 features the works of Banfield, including “Tenor vs. Baritone” at 8:00 pm, “the Jackie Wilson Story” a jazz opera at 3:15 pm, and the Harlem Boys choir production of “Out of Africa” an acapella performance with African percussion instruments at 12:00 pm. The series concludes with our “Crossover Concert” at 5:15 pm (*October 26, 2024 ONLY) staring Grammy Nominated and Tony award winner Melba Moore Providing an opportunity to bring to life the works discussed during the workshop.
Our “Crossover Concerts” were created as an outreach tool to connect with New York Opera lovers while introducing opera to a new generation of operagoers. We pair popular music genres, a popular musical artist, and our operatic Resident artists. This fall, Lincoln Center welcomes the return of the acclaimed great Tony award-winning Grammy-nominated Big Ron Hunter as she stars in our fall “Crossover Concerts”. In honor of Harlem Collective’s Lincoln Center debut, this concert’s theme is all about the Big Apple, New York!
New York’s Fascination with Big Ron is not new. She is joined by Harlem Collective’s Resident artists tenor Jarvus Ricardo Hester and baritone Fernarndo Watts as they give tribute to the concrete jungle we call home, “New York.” This fall concert kicks off with the jazz standard “Autumn in New York” This jazz standards concert crosses over from opera to jazz with duets with Big Ron R&B, soul, disco, and gospel artists. The evening is a musical journey that honors our city through an iconic theatrical video presentation that captivates audiences night after night. Big Ron concludes the concert with special guests Harlem Boys Choir as they sing “Lullaby of Broadway”!
Our Fall 2024 season concludes with our annual Masked Ball in the Lobby of the New York Public Library of the Performing Arts on October 31, 2024, at 8:00 pm. This white-tie gala is Harlem Collectives’ annual fundraising celebration featuring Grammy award-winning soprano Angela Brown and international soprano Brenda Marie Turner singing the works of African American composer William “Bill” Banfield
The mission of this campaign is to inspire a passion for literacy through the art of opera. Harlem Collective has developed companion materials o connect, engage, and grow with new and old readers ( to promote e-readers & audiobooks) It will provide a way to capture emails for long-term engagement. Our Educational Outreach program campaign materials engage children, and adults alike via the Harlem Collective/New York Public Library website and social media platforms & app. Integrating African American authors who have strong musical themes in their storytelling.
- 11×24 b&w poster with easy access QR Code
- Satire Sundays
A one-on-one conversation with the authors of our three featured books for this quarter’s series. These three books are available at the New York Public Library in person, via e-book, and audiobook. Each of these books has been selected due to the musical themes presented in each book.
Readers are encouraged to check Harlem Collective’s season and while you are there check out one of the series featured authors’ books. The goal is to start conversations online on and on our OnDemand Satire Sunday’s” www.harlemcollective.org/satire-sundays. As well as to tune into our OnDemand series and podcasts.
This fall season Authors:
A Little Devil in America
In Praise of Black Performance
Hanif Abdurraqib
A stirring meditation on Black performance in America from the New York Times bestselling author of Go Ahead in the Rain “Whether heralding unsung entertainers or reexamining legends, Hanif Abdurraqib weaves together gorgeous essays that reveal the resilience, heartbreak, and joy within Black performance. I read this book breathlessly.”—Brit Bennett, author of The Vanishing Half
Soul Culture
Black Poets, Books, and Questions That Grew Me Up
Remica Bingham-Risher
“A powerful celebration of poets…Lit lovers will be dazzled.” —Publishers WeeklyExamines firsthand the lives of legendary Black writers who made a way out of no way to illuminate a road map for budding creators desiring to follow in their footsteps
A Life in Music and Protest
Ian Zack
The first in-depth biography of the legendary singer and “Voice of the Civil Rights Movement,” who combatted racism and prejudice through her music.