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DGF is focused on the intersection of social justice, American history, and the arts. Deeply inspired by the achievements of America’s hidden musical figures, the foundation is invested in doing research and educating the public about their remarkable stories of courage and persistence. From enriching our musical heritage to preparing the diverse pool of tomorrow’s vocal stars, DGF will positively impact how artists are valued in this nation, encouraging inclusive opportunity, access, and advocacy for the next generation.
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SATURDAY, APRIL 27 - SUNDAY, MAY 5 2024
The Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson : 4 Performances at the Pittsburgh Opera
Pittsburgh’s unsung heroine who taught America to sing... In 1943, the National Negro Opera Company is set to perform on a floating barge to evade racially-segregated venues. But when bad weather threatens—pushing the performance to a segregated performance hall—visionary impressaria Mary Cardwell Dawson must find a way forward.

SEPTEMBER 29, 2023
8:00PM
Convergence: Exploring the Effects of Mutual Inspiration On Artist and Industry
This concert & talkback event presented as part of Shared Voices Symposium 2023: In the Driver's Seat.
Join us in Griswold Hall at Johns Hopkins Peabody Institute in Baltimore for a special concert and talkback event! With Symone Harcum, soprano, Andrew Turner, tenor, and José Meléndez, pianist, featuring the works of Mozart, Verdi, Jasmine Barnes, Will Liverman, John Carter, Hall Johnson and many more.
SEPTEMBER 29-
OCTOBER 1, 2023
Shared Voices Symposium 2023:
In The Driver's Seat hosted by Johns Hopkins Peabody Institute
In-person at Johns Hopkins Peabody Institute. Featuring workshops, talkbacks, simulated auditions, performances and more with some of today's classical vocal arts luminaries. Some sessions open to the public - details to be announced.
EVENTS


HIDDEN VOICES SPOTLIGHT
Camille Knickerson
Born in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Camille Knickerson’s musical interests and abilities were evinced early by her father, William Joseph Knickerson, who was a music professor and band director at Southern University in New Orleans. Trained at Oberlin College Conservatory, the Juilliard School, and Columbia Teachers College, Knickerson established the B-sharp Music Club to promote “Negro Music,” and founded a branch of the National Association of Negro Musicians (NANM) in 1921.
Knickerson’s research and performance forte focused on Creole songs, and she arranged many for concert performance. Her work won her a coveted Rosenwald Fellowship at Oberlin College, and her Master’s thesis was “Afro-Creole Music in Louisiana: A Thesis on the Plantation Songs Created by the Creole Negroes of Louisiana.” As early as 1942, her work was published by the Boston Music Company in a volume entitled Five Creole Songs harmonized and arranged by Camille Knickerson. Her arrangements of Creole songs are fine examples of folk music transcription.
A professor on the faculty of Howard University, Knickerson had a lasting impact on the musical community, as can be seen in the numerous archival repositories that cite her scholarly work including The Marian Anderson Collection (University of Pennsylvania), Louise Burge Papers (Howard University), Eva Jessye Collection (Pittsburgh State University), Ray M. Lawless Collection (Library of Congress), and the National Negro Opera Company Collection (Library of Congress).

OUR STORY
DGF is rooted in the belief that now is the time to increase our nation’s commitment to its artists, both past and present—for America’s future and for the whole world. In paying homage to the achievements of so many who have gone before while serving the real needs of today’s emerging artist singers, The Denyce Graves Foundation is giving back and paying it forward at the same time.

OUR MUSIC CONSERVATORY PARTNERS
The Denyce Graves Foundation is proud to partner with the following Music Conservatories for the 2022 - 2023 Shared Voices program. Click on each institution's logo to learn more.

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The Denyce Graves Foundation is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization.
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IN THE NEWS
"Shared Voices" program working to diversify classical vocal arts
Today, it’s Midday on the Arts. We begin with a conversation about a program designed to help further the educations and careers of young people of color in classical music...
Peabody Welcomes Shared Voices Symposium 2023
Peabody is proud to welcome Shared Voices Symposium 2023: In the Driver’s Seat, the second annual event held by faculty artist Denyce Graves’ namesake foundation’s collaboration among Historically Black Colleges and Universities and leading conservatories and music schools of North America...

OUR HBCU PARTNERS
The Denyce Graves Foundation is proud to partner with the following Historically Black Colleges and Universities for the 2022 - 2023 Shared Voices program. Click on each institution's logo to learn more.