In celebration of African-American History Month, the Marilyn Horne Museum and Exhibit Center will present a virtual performance by Cameroonian-American mezzo-soprano Veena Akama-Makia.
The performance will air at 8 p.m. Feb. 19. It is free to watch and will be available only on the museum’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCEnMFyU9A_O1iZ3qToNOzg
The award-winning vocalist has studied and performed in both America and Europe. She is a graduate of the University of Central Arkansas and holds a master’s degree in performance and literature from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y.
Rochester-based pianist/composer Evan Ritter will accompany Akama-Makia. Ritter, who is from Dallas, Texas, is a graduate of the Eastman school of Music, where he is currently a master’s student — and a “passionate chamber musician,” according to Matthew D. Hileman, museum director.
Hileman talked about some of the composers who will be featured in the performance, including Florence Price, Antonín Dvorák, Margaret Bonds and Francesco Santoliquido.
“Price and Bonds both top a very short list of African-American women composers,” he said. “Their work has only recently begun to receive broad attention, despite their incredible talent.”
During the performance, the museum will also introduce a new permanent exhibit: African American Voices. Visitors will be able to see the installation in the lobby of Horne Hall.
The new exhibit “is part of a broader plan to expand the ‘exhibit center’ portion of the museum with the goal of including diverse perspectives,” according to Hileman.
African American Voices will include the story of conductor Henry Lewis, who Marilyn Horne married in 1960. Horne faced challenges in the classical music world due to the marriage, according to the museum manager.
His career started at age 16 with Lewis playing double-bass as the youngest full-time member of a major American orchestra.
A special unveiling of the exhibit, along with other changes, will be planned at a later date.
“The museum is planning on a grand opening of the new exhibit along with the renovated and expanded gift shop sometime in March,” said Hileman. “I plan on having a big sale to make room for a whole new assortment of merchandise.”
