Marshall Opera presents "An Evening with Adolphus Hailstork"

Marshall Opera proudly celebrates the 85th birthday of distinguished American composer Adolphus Hailstork with a concert honoring one of the most compelling and enduring voices in American music. Hailstork's extraordinary body of work—spanning opera, orchestral, choral, chamber, and vocal music—combines lyrical beauty, rhythmic vitality, and a profound engagement with the American experience. This special celebration brings together a stellar cast of acclaimed vocal artists: sopranos Nicoletta Berry and Maria Brea, tenor Joshua Blue*, and baritone Jorell Williams, under the baton of conductor Mark Shapiro. Join Marshall Opera for an inspiring musical tribute to Hailstork's remarkable life and legacy—a joyful 85th-birthday celebration of a composer whose music speaks with eloquence, humanity, and unmistakable power to audiences today.

Mark Shapiro, conductor
Nicoletta Berry, soprano
Maria Brea, soprano
Joshua Blue*, tenor
Jorell Williams, baritone
Pauline Kim Harris, violin
Maria Im, violin
Kayla Williams, viola
Laura Metcalf, cello
Kebra-Seyoun Charles, double bass
Yoonah Kim, clarinet
Kirsten Agresta Copely, harp
Baron Fenwick, piano

All compositions by Adolphus Hailstork:

Our Land (World Premiere)
Maria Brea, soprano

Nobody Know
Jorell Williams, baritone

Summer.Life.Song.
Nicoletta Berry, soprano

Four Romantic Love Songs
Joshua Blue, tenor

Sing Her a Song
Ms. Brea

Excerpts from the opera Common Ground
Ms. Berry, Ms. Brea, Mr. Blue, Mr. Williams

*Mr. Blue appears by courtesy of The Metropolitan Opera.