The Coalition for African Americans in the Performing Arts (CAAPA), a 501c3 non-profit arts organization dedicated to helping Black classical musicians, honors sopranos Carmen Balthrop and Regina McConnell on Wednesday, June 22, 2016, at the organization’s annual Gala Awards Concert and Silent Auction at the John Addison Concert Hall, Harmony Hall Regional Center, 10701 Livingston Road, Fort Washington, MD 20744 at 7:30 pm. National Medal of Arts awardee George Shirley will join Balthrop[ and McConnell to be hailed as this year’s honorees. Shirley was the recent recipient of the national medal awarded to him by President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama last spring. The three legends are being honored by CAAPA for their work as classical musicians and for their contribution to the classical music community. 

“CAAPA hopes to recognize living legends”, stated Co-Founder and Board Chair Pamela Simonson. “It’s important, we as a community recognize the accomplishments of those paving the way for generations to come”. Simonson, also a soprano, performs with the Washington National Opera and understands how opera is often downplayed and misunderstood within the Black community.

“I often perform with living legends, but as an organization, we must always lift up each other”, she concluded, explaining that the organization’s hope is to help diversify both the audience and classical music and opera stages by reaching the group’s goal of helping “Bring Color to the Classics!”   Both Shirley and Balthrop have sung on the stages of the Metropolitan Opera, with Shirley being the first Black tenor to perform in a lead role, Balthrop an Inductee into the University of Maryland’s Alumni Hall of Fame, and McConnell singing throughout the world.  All are now teaching and continue to pave the way for future musicians. 

Singing their praises with musical presentations at the awards concert are renowned bass Morris Robinson, soprano Brandie Sutton, tenor Chauncey Packer, and concert pianist Dana Kristina-Joi Morgan, along with the CAAPA 2016 Youth Music Awardee, and Edmond Charles, accompanist. Other performances will also take place including one by the Washington National Ballet.  A VIP Pre-Concert Gala Reception and Post Party is also planned. For details and information, visit the website at Click here or call the office at 301-839-1444.