Rochester Beacon (https://rochesterbeacon.com/2024/12/27/voices-to-ring-out-for-the-william-warfield-scholarship-fund/)
On Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, a concert raising funds for scholarships to benefit African American classical vocal musicians looks to continue in King’s footsteps for civil rights.
“Let Freedom Sing” is a benefit event for the William Warfield Scholarship Fund, which provides scholarships for an underrepresented segment of students to attend the Eastman School of Music. An acclaimed soloist, recitalist, actor, narrator, and activist, Warfield himself was able to attend Eastman only because of a scholarship he won during his senior year in high school.
“On this MLK weekend, we pay tribute to two extraordinary leaders, William Warfield and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose commitment to freedom and equity continues to inspire. Through their lives and legacies, we see how art and activism can unite us and propel us toward a brighter future,” says WWSF president Lolita Forsett.
This year’s event on Jan. 19 will feature the 2024-2025 William Warfield Scholarship Fund recipient, current Eastman student and baritone Holden Turner, alongside a lineup of acclaimed performers, including Kenneth Overton, Grammy Award-winning baritone; Thomas Warfield, WWSF president emeritus, artist and pianist; the Mount Vernon Missionary Baptist Church Men’s Chorus; and Deanna Dewberry, award-winning anchor and investigative reporter for News10 NBC, as concert emcee.
“The legacy of William Warfield is deeply inspiring to me as a young artist,” says Turner. “It’s a privilege to honor his memory while standing on the foundation he helped build.”
Turner has been a part of numerous productions with the Eastman Opera Theatre and has also been a featured soloist with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. Last summer, he was seen as a Vocal Fellow at the Tanglewood Music Festival, and he is the current recipient of the Rochester Links Organization’s Young, Gifted & Black Scholarship as well as the William Warfield Scholarship at Eastman.
The concert will also feature the presentation of the 2025 William Warfield Legacy Award to Grammy Award-winning soprano Leona Mitchell, for her leadership, achievements and distinguished contributions to the development of young African American artists aspiring to careers in classical vocal performance. As part of the celebration, Mitchell will participate in a special pre-concert chat with Julia Figueras, former music director and mid-day host for WXXI Classical.
WWSF was formed in 1977 and is dedicated to providing financial support and encouragement for African American students to attain success in the field of classical vocal music as well as fostering wider recognition of the life and legacy of William Warfield.
Since its establishment, the volunteer-operated organization has provided financial aid to more than 60 African American classical singers, including students from the Eastman School and high school-aged performers.
“Let Freedom Sing” is the 48th annual benefit concert for WWSF. In addition to its annual concert, WWSF holds a spring luncheon featuring the Eastman scholarship recipient. It also hosts the William Warfield Classical Vocal Competition for African American High School Students, now in its sixth year.
“‘Let Freedom Sing’ honors the intertwining legacies of freedom and song, particularly during the civil rights movement. This concert is more than a celebration of music,” says Forsett. “It is a profound reminder of how music has been a voice for justice, hope, and liberation throughout history.”
“To sing at this concert, especially under the theme of ‘Let Freedom Sing,’ is to celebrate the transformative power of music in advancing equality and justice,” Turner says.
The concert will be held at 4 p.m. in Kilbourn Hall. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $45 before Dec. 31 ($50 afterward) and $10 for students with University of Rochester ID.
Jacob Schermerhorn is a Rochester Beacon contributing writer and data journalist. The Beacon welcomes comments and letters from readers who adhere to our comment policy including use of their full, real name. See “Leave a Reply” below to discuss on this post. Comments of a general nature may be submitted to the Letters page by emailing [email protected].
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