written by

Justin Austin

Baritone
Take 6: Come Unto Me

Take 6: Come Unto Me

Growing up, I was fascinated with the Grammy winning a cappella group “Take 6”. A group of six young black men singing about the power of goodness and Love was an incredible thing for me to look up to. Take 6 was started by singer Claude McKnight and 5 of his...

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Punch Brothers: Familiarity

Punch Brothers: Familiarity

The song "Familiarity" by the Punch Brothers spoke to me on a special level when I first heard it a few years ago. It sort of redefined what I expected from popular music. The fact that there are so many musical styles and is set up in a form you usually only hear in...

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Franz Liszt:  Vallée d’Obermann

Franz Liszt: Vallée d’Obermann

Lizst’s “Vallée d'Obermann” is my favorite piece of music ever written. I fell in love with it as a child, but resonated more with it as I got older and experienced the challenges of life. Before I knew anything about the piece, what I loved most about it, was that it...

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Damien Sneed: I Dream a World

“I Dream a World” is one of the most beautiful and loving poems by Langston Hughes I have come across. Langston speaks about a dream world where every person is equally as valuable and should be treated with respect. As farfetched as this idea may seem, I believe that...

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William Bolcom: Ballad of the landlord

“Ballad of the landlord” is a poem by Langston Hughes. It basically is a dialogue between an African American tenant and a white landlord. It’s interesting to me that Langston doesn’t offer any opinions. He tell’s the story as it happens and the reader/ listener has...

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