Maryland Opera Presents New Voices in Opera Initiative

Media Contacts

James Harp, Artistic Director

jharp@marylandopera.org, 410.591.2853

Jason Buckwalter, General Director

info@marylandopera.org, 484.678.6041

 

For Immediate Release

 

Maryland Opera starts new initiative - New Voices in Opera

February 28, 2026

Baltimore, MD (January 13, 2026) – Maryland Opera’s newest initiative, New Voices in Opera, brings fresh operatic works to the Maryland Opera stage.  The evening features a double bill of new works by composers with a connection to our performing community in the greater Baltimore area:  Oshun by B.E. Boykin and Kandake by Timothy Amukele, both with librettos by Jarrod Lee.  The performance will include a mini recital featuring students from Morgan State University and Towson University performing works by African American composers.  The performance will be on Saturday, February 28, 2026 at 7:00pm at Grace United Methodist Church on Charles Street in North Baltimore.  Tickets are $40.  A special educational event, New Voices Discovery, will be held on Sunday, February 22, 6pm-8pm at the Roland Park Community Center.  Tickets for this event are $29.

The operas will be presented in a semi-staged format with orchestra and projected images as the backdrop.  The operas are in English and English supertitles will be provided. 

Oshun tells the story of the gods in the pantheon of the Ifa religion as they seek to bring rain to the lands of their worshippers.  Kandake recounts the trials of the one-eyed warrior queen, Amanirenas, as she fights to repel the Romans and protect her people.  A pre-performance discussion beginning at 6pm with Yoruba Priestess Oloye Sade Ajala and librettist Jarrod Lee will discuss the origins of the works.  All are welcome at the discussion with the purchase of a ticket to the performance. 

Following the performance, there will be a Q&A session with the creators and performers moderated by Terry Eberhardt, the Executive Director of The Denyce Graves Foundation.

Joining us is a stellar cast of local artists including soprano Jouelle Roberson as Oshun, Daniel J. Smith as Shango, Anthony Ballard as Esu and Prince Akinidad, Christian Simmons as Olodumare and Kushite 2, and Taylor Boykins as Kandake Amanirenas.

Shared stage direction is by Maryland Opera’s Director of New Voices, Jarrod Lee, with choreographer Shawna Williams.  Musical direction is by conductor and Baltimore School for the Arts teacher Anoa Green and Maryland Opera’s Artistic Director James Harp.

University students participating in the mini recital will also have master class opportunities during the rehearsal process with composer Timothy Amukele and UIA talent agency Vice President Shawn Marie Jeffrey. 

“What’s more operatic than the God of Love saving the world or a one-eyed warrior queen who stood up for her people against oppression?  Not much,” said Jarrod Lee, Maryland Opera’s Director of New Voices.  “The stories of Oshun and Kandake are old, yet still resonate with our lives today.  Both of these powerful women show us how to find the courage to be the change we want to see in real time.  It is a thrill to bring these old stories to life in the form of new operas.  With a stellar cast drawn from Maryland, DC, and the Greater Baltimore community, Maryland Opera is always working to connect with new audiences.  Like gods and queens, together we can make change and we can free the people!”

Tickets are $40 and are available on Maryland Opera’s website, marylandopera.org, or by calling 484-678-6041.  Student tickets are available for $20.  Seating is limited so advance orders are recommended.  Free parking is available in the Grace Church parking lot.    

The New Voices Discovery event on February 22^nd will act as the perfect lead up to the performance.  Librettist Jarrod Lee will share his inspirations for setting these beautiful stories as operas.  Peter Wood, owner of the Spirit Shop on Falls Road, will serve craft cocktails inspired by the stories and music.  Light fare will be available while a display of concept designs for the projections to be used in the performance is shared.  Following these discussions, Anthony Ballard and Christian Simmons with James Harp at the piano will perform excerpts from the operas and answer audience questions. 

 

COMPLETE EVENT DETAILS

 

New Voices in Opera

Saturday, February 28, 2026 | 7pm

Grace United Methodist Church

5407 North Charles Street

Baltimore, MD 21210

 

Oshun

Music by B.E. Boykin

Libretto by Jarrod Lee

Sung in English and Yoruba with English supertitles

Cast:

Jouelle Roberson – Oshun

Daniel J. Smith – Shango

Anthony Ballard – Esu

Christian Simmons – Olodumare 

Mini Recital

Featuring students from Morgan State University and Towson University

Kandake

Music by Timothy Amukele

Libretto by Jarrod Lee

Sung in English and Meroitic with English supertitles

Cast:

Kandake Amanirenas – Taylor Boykins

Prince Akinidad – Anthony Ballard

Oracle 1 – Sierra Leslie

Oracle 2 – Abjini Chattopadhyay

Kushite 1 – Darius Sanders

Kushite 2 – Christian Simmons

Roman Centurions – Darius Jackson, Henry Hubbard

Chorus – Nazarene Maloney, Laquavia Alston, Henry Hubbard, Darius Jackson

Stage Direction by Jarrod Lee and Shawna Williams

Music Direction by Anoa Green and James Harp

Performed with chamber orchestra

There will be one 10-minute intermission

Pre-performance discussion at 6pm with Yoruba Priestess Oloye Sade Ajala and librettist Jarrod Lee

Post-performance Q&A with creators and cast members moderated by Terry Eberhardt of The Denyce Graves Foundation

 

New Voices Discovery

Sunday, February 22, 2026 | 6pm-8pm

Roland Park Community Center

5802 Roland Avenue

Baltimore, MD 21210

 

Featuring:

Jarrod Lee, librettist

Peter Wood, Spirit Shop on Falls Road

Anthony Ballard, tenor

Christian Simmons, bass

James Harp, piano

 

About Maryland Opera

Maryland Opera offers quality opera performances, innovative artistry, support for social awareness and change, education and outreach programming, commitment to underserved communities, and a vehicle for talented young vocalists to follow their dreams.  Maryland Opera builds on Baltimore’s century-old opera tradition that garnered critical acclaim for grand productions that featured opera’s greatest celebrities.

Maryland Opera is passionately invested in bringing the excitement and beauty of live opera–traditional programming as well as innovative and modern approaches–to diverse audiences, including historically underserved audiences throughout Maryland.  They do so through numerous outreach programs, including Opera-to-Go, Opera Cares and Opera Camp.

For media questions, please contact Jason Buckwalter, Maryland Opera Executive Assistant, at 484.678.6041 or info@marylandopera.org.