Cantate Young Artists of Color

Cantate Young Artists of Color Presents

Ronald “Trey” Walton: Revelations in Concert

Sat – Oct 28, 2023 – 5:00pm EDT
Bethesda Presbyterian Church, 7611 Clarendon Rd. Bethesda,

Cantate Young Artist of Color composer Ronald “Trey” Walton presents a recital of his own works, created and refined while in residence with Cantate. Joined by collaborators Andre Leonard (piano), David Lonkevich (flute), Brian Thorne (tenor), Daniel J. Smith (baritone), and Cara Schaefer (mezzo-soprano), Trey offers works characterized by his signature lush harmonies, blending classical traditions with jazz and gospel in a style that’s uniquely his. Hear his varied vocal and instrumental works ranging from his “Festive Toccata for Organ” (played by the composer himself!), to a duet for baritone and tenor on contemporary family themes, to excerpts from vocal suites based on familiar spirituals “Motherless Chile” and “No Man Can Not Hinder Me.” Join us in support of a fearless young voice on the musical scene whose wide-reaching influence at only 21 foretells a brilliant future.

More about the artist below:

Ronald “Trey” Walton Named Cantate’s 2022-2023 Young Artist

Takoma Park, Md. — Cantate is proud to announce its second Cantate Young Artists of Color (CYAC) honoree in an ongoing initiative in which Cantate features and mentors a young BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) artist each season from one of the following categories: vocalists, composers, and conductors.  Composer and organist Ronald “Trey” Walton joins Cantate as its 2022-2023 Young Artist of Color, working with advisors throughout the Cantate programming year to refine his craft and prepare to present his polished works as part of Cantate’s mainstage programming this spring.

Artistic leadership of Cantate partners with an Advisory Council, made up exclusively of established BIPOC artists, to offer mentoring and career guidance, and to help build a professional network for selected emerging artists. Mentorship is central to the CYAC program, conceived by Music Director Victoria Gau. One principal mentor is assigned to the young artist from his or her own discipline. After the first year of participation, each young artist will spend a year on the Advisory Council as a “peer advisor,” thus becoming a resource for the next young artist. Cantate expects these relationships to be ongoing, as program alumni return to perform or present their works with Cantate as seasoned professionals, and they continue to receive mentorship and advise the program. Serving on the Advisory Council are conductor Stanley Thurston, composer Carlos Simon, and vocalist Kevin Short.

Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Ronald “Trey” Walton has been performing and composing music since the age of twelve. He is an accomplished multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger, and conductor whose works have been showcased in recital halls and churches up and down the east coast. Ronald Walton has written music in a wide variety of genres: chamber, orchestral, vocal, opera, and jazz. His first full opera, for which he served as both librettist and composer, was Dear Louie.

He has been part of the music ministry in several churches as a music director or organist and currently serves as organist at Mount Zion United Methodist Church, the area’s oldest African-American Congregation. Ronald also serves as the Jazz Ensemble Music Director for the Coalition for African-Americans in the Performing Arts (CAAPA).

Trey is a graduate of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in tuba performance. He currently attends the University of The District of Columbia as an organ performance major. Currently, Trey is working on an opera called Sons of our Fathers and an orchestral suite inspired by the history of American Cowboys. He will also share compositional credits in Alliance for New Music-Theatre’s expansion of a major work inspired by the artist Jacob Lawrence.

For more information about the CYAC program, contact info@cantate.org.