Lift Every Voice

Bethesda, MD, October 15, 2024 – Cantate proudly announces its 2024-2025 Lift Every Voice Cohort: Nuria Shin, soprano; Jared Marshall, countertenor; Javon Charles, mezzo-soprano; David Pelino, tenor; and Shikahi Jones, bass-baritone. These extraordinary young singers will join Cantate Concert Choir to provide skilled support to each of the sections while receiving professional-level training and first-hand experience in the performance of varied choral repertoire. In the program’s first full year (following the Spring 2024 pilot) each of these fellows will 

  • Participate as paid choristers in three performances with Cantate Concert Choir.
  • Receive resume and biography coaching from Cantate’s professional network.
  • Coach solo oratorio repertoire with Cantate’s artistic director as well as up to two collaborating choral or orchestral conductors.
  • Attend soloist, orchestra, and dress rehearsals, as well as oratorio performances of collaborating organizations.
  • Participate in two masterclasses with leading local experts on varied oratorio repertoire.
  • Perform solo and small ensemble repertoire with orchestra at a LEV showcase incorporated into a Cantate season concert. The performance will be professionally recorded for the singers’ personal use, and leading area choral and orchestral conductors will be invited.

Fellows emerge from their residency with Cantate better prepared for careers in the choral/oratorio field, and with a network of supporters and advocates to enable their success. Fellows are compensated competitively for rehearsals and performances and provided a travel stipend. Resume and biography consultation, vocal coaching, rehearsal and concert access, and masterclasses are provided to LEV fellows free of charge.

LEV is the evolution of Cantate’s Young Artist of Color (CYAC) residency. Launched in 2021 the CYAC – now LEV – aims to address the widespread racial inequity in the field of classical music by providing mentoring and performance opportunities to exceptional young BIPOC artists. In the program’s first season, Cantate featured baritone Anthony Anderson, who returned to perform with Cantate as a soloist on Magnificat this past December. Composer Ronald “Trey” Walton has recently completed his residency with a recital of his works in October 2023. Each extraordinary young artist worked with advisors throughout the Cantate programming year to refine his craft and prepare to present his polished works.

Applications to this season of LEV were open to pre-professional singers – those pursuing a career in music but not yet subsisting on income provided by performing or teaching in the field. Vocational singers aged 30 and under without professional representation were considered. The 24-25 cohort of LEV fellows will perform on Cantate’s Verdi’s Requiem, Heal, and Journey, in which they will be featured as soloists with orchestra, performing works polished and perfected during their residency with Cantate. Fellows are compensated for rehearsals and performances and provided a travel stipend. Resume consultation, vocal coaching as appropriate, and masterclass participation are provided to LEV fellows free of charge.

Additional questions about the program may be addressed to Cara Schaefer, Cantate’s Executive Director, at exec@cantate.org.