Singing Down the Barriers: A Guide to Centering African American Song for Concert Performers

Never has there been a more urgent time to foster cultural humility, diversity, and dialogue and address systemically exclusionary practices in vocal music. This book will assist not only with programming music by composers from the African diaspora but also in creating brave spaces for critical conversations on race, equity, and American music.

Emery Stephens, baritone, is an assistant professor of voice at St. Olaf College. He has delivered presentations for the College Music Society, Race and Pedagogy National Conference, African American Art Song Alliance, National Association for the Study and Performance of African American Music, and the Singing Down the Barriers Institute. Caroline Helton, soprano, is a clinical associate professor of music at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance. Through her teaching, recordings, and publications, she is a tireless advocate for integrating the canon of song repertoire to reflect and respect its true diversity. Along with Emery Stephens, she co-founded the Singing Down the Barriers project.