Harolyn Blackwell & Denyce Graves in Kennedy Tribute

Blackwell with President Bush (2006)

January 20 marks the 50th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy's inauguration. On that day in 1961, the African-American mezzo-soprano Marian Anderson sang "The Star-Spangled Banner." As a tribute to this occasion Harolyn Blackwell will perform on the opening night concert of a three-weeklong series of performances and events commemorating the president. The

Graves & President Obama (2009)

events are taking place at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. The second opera-related event in the series will be a recital by Denyce Graves on February 1. The mezzo-soprano will sing selections from a 1962 White House program sung by Grace Bumbry who was the first African-American opera singer to perform at the White House. The Kennedy Center Honors awarded Grace Bumbry in 2009 for her exemplary lifetime achievement in the performing arts.
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