MY BROTHER’S KEEPER
TUE, Nov 19, 8pm
Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center
129 W 67th St
Buy Tickets $20-70
Students $10 at 212-501-3330 or at the door
Complimentary post-concert wine reception with the artists included with admission.
A story of brotherly love, caretaking, and community among Black men in America told through art song, soul, gospel, and opera, My Brother’s Keeper features a stellar team of Black American male singers, including NYFOS Records recording artist tenor Joshua Blue, Grammy Award-winning baritone Will Liverman (making his NYFOS debut), winner of the 2022 YCA Susan Wadsworth International Auditions bass-baritone Joseph Parrish, rising bass-baritone Alan Williams (also a NYFOS debut), “rock-solid singer” (The Washington Post) baritone Jorell Williams, and young American tenor Chaz’men Williams-Ali, alongside NYFOS’s own Steven Blier. My Brother’s Keeper was conceived by the winner of the 2024 Marian Anderson Vocal Award, long-time NYFOS artist Justin Austin, who co-artistic directed the program.
“It is a profound honor to co-artistic direct My Brother’s Keeper, a poignant celebration of Black men uplifting and inspiring one another toward greatness,” Justin Austin remarked. “I have brought together an extraordinary ensemble of vocalists whom I deeply admire: Jorell Williams, Will Liverman, Joshua Blue, Chaz Williams-Ali, Alan Williams, and Joseph Parrish. Collaborating with Steve Blier and the NYFOS family has been a cherished highlight of my artistic journey for the past nine years. This year, however, holds particular significance, as I am able to bring to life a vision I have literally been dreaming of.”
THE PROGRAM
Jorell Williams: Americana
Traditional (arr. Take Six): Come Unto Me
Margaret Bonds: Three Dream Portraits
Johannes Brahms: Die Schwestern (Die Brüder)
Leslie Adams: Sence You Went Away
William Grant Still: A Black Pierrot
Rachel Peters: Santa Ain’t Black
Harry Revel: Guiding Me Back Home
Richard Rodgers (arr. Will Liverman): Some Enchanted Evening
Steve Lutvak: Beware the Anger of Soft-Spoken Men
“Leadbelly” (Huddle Ledbetter): Sylvie
George Bizet: Au fond du temple saint (from Les pêcheurs de perles)
Donny Hathaway: He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother
Jorell Williams: Hold Fast to Dreams