Queens of Composition

• • 22% contributed
  • 78% to go

As a vocalist and educator, I have dedicated much of my career to researching and performing works by Black American composers, particularly women who have made great contributions to Classical Music. With the Queens of Composition, I will produce a recording of art songs by four icons in this genre: Florence Price, Margaret Bonds, Rev. Dr. Lena McLin, and Regina Harris Baiocchi. The resulting album will complement future recitals that I will perform and help share these important works with a wider audience.

About This Project

When I began my professional career in music, I observed early on that the contributions of Black American composers were either being left out of the canon entirely, or significantly under-recognized. For instance, in the classical world, the contributions of Black American composers remain little known outside the genre of a spiritual. So I began to research artists across history and today and curate my own recitals with songs and arias composed by Black American composers.

In 2010, I began to focus primarily on four women artists in this genre: Florence Price, Margaret Bonds, Rev. Dr. Lena McLin, and Regina Harris Baiocchi. Their professional lives intersected, and each served as influential teachers and mentors to one or all of the others.  With the Black Lives Matter movement, many classical institutions have made strides in expanding their repertoire to include “classical” compositions by Black American composers, but there is still much work to be done. 

I now have a depth of research and familiarity with several key and beautiful works by these composers that I want to share more widely with my audiences and the classical music field at large. With support from this campaign, I will record and release a CD dedicated to these Queens of Composition, all of whom have ties to the Chicago area. My collaborator for this project is the fabulous pianist, Dr. Dana Brown, with whom I have worked for years as a vocal coach and friend. This recording will also be available as a digital download and serve as a tool for me to present my research and recitals at various universities and colleges to promote the works of these important composers. 

Thank yous

Contribute any amount or choose from the levels below.

• $25
  Thank you and a social media shout out ($25.00 is tax deductible.)
• $50
  Above plus an autographed CD ($35.00 is tax deductible.)
• $100
  All of the above plus an autographed poster ($70.00 is tax deductible.)
• $300
  Exclusive, behind-the-scenes footage from the CD recording, plus all of the above. ($170.00 is tax deductible.)
• $750
  Private in-home recital by Rae-Myra and a pianist, plus an autographed poster and CD ($120.00 is tax deductible.)

---

Rae-Myra Hilliard

Make a Wave Artist

Rae-Myra Hilliard is equally at home in operatic, solo concert, and choral singing. As an active recitalist, Rae-Myra regularly programs works featuring Black American composers/lyricists or works written for a classical singer of color. Her most recent recital performed …

View Rae-Myra Hilliard's profile

• 0 updates
• 16 supporters

• No updates yet, stay tuned!

• Thank you to the following for contributing to 3Arts with the recommendation that we support this project.

  • Paula Jeske Glassel

  • Anonymous Supporter

  • Susan Lindsley

  • Gena Andreasen

  • Karen Saxon

  • Anonymous Supporter

  • Alexa Muhly

  • Regina Harris Baiocchi

  • Gregory Shifrin

  • John Hacker

  • Amber Ginsburg

  • Lillian Murphy

  • Christina Williams

  • Sandy Weiler

  • Anonymous Supporter

  • Anna Verch

3AP Presenting Partner:

 Additional support provided by: