Pianist, Stacie Haneline, was invited to perform three world premieres as a guest of the 25th Anniversary of the African American Art Song Alliance. Works included world premieres of composers:  Rosephanye Powell, Andre Meyers and Grammy Award winning composer, Sean Okpebholo.  Haneline was honored to perform with Lisa Edward Burrs, soprano; Naimi Burrs, violinist; Byron Jones, baritone; and Jamie Reimer, soprano.  The three day conference featured performers from all over the world and culminating in Sean Okpebholo’s, song cycle, ‘Words Like Freedom’.

The Alliance presents the vanguard conference every five years, inviting the nation’s leading performers and scholars to present and discuss Black participation in the Arts, both past and present. The October anniversary conference will focus mainly on Social Justice and the Harlem Renaissance Centennial Observation. Session topics include the study, performance, and support of art songs by African American composers. In addition, the Alliance will present solicited lectures, posters, composers and performers for peer review.

The 25th-anniversary conference paid particular attention to women composers. 2022 marks the half-centennial since the death of Margaret Bonds, an American composer, pianist, arranger and teacher who was one of the first Black composers and performers to gain recognition in the United States. The conference will present lectures and performances about Bonds and her musical contributions.

The Alliance remains focused on maintaining accessibility for the audience it serves and the larger population. They have made registration free and open to the public for the conference and its events. Free registration is available here.