African Americans have had a profound impact on the development of music in the United States. While their role in the history of American popular and folk music is now generally acknowledged and appreciated, their influence within the "classical" music world has received little attention--even within the African American community.

Afrocentric Voices focuses on African American performers and composers and on the vocal music forms they influenced, especially opera, art songs and Negro spirituals composed for concert performance.

The musicians profiled here not only opened pathways for today's young African Americans through their own accomplishments, they advised and encouraged youth with lectures and master classes, articles and books. Many of them established scholarships and competitions for young musicians whose talents and desires lead them to seek out careers in "classical" music. These artists showed--and continue to show-- the African American community that support of their young artists is important and does yield positive results.

This Homepage is an Encyclopaedia of the influnce of Black Musician in european classical music.

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Link: AFROVOICES

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