Tenor Lawrence Brownlee To Perform In Princeton On March 8

PRINCETON, NJ — On March 8, operatic tenor Lawrence Brownlee will return to perform at Princeton University Concerts (PUC).

Brownlee will premiere a new program, “Rising” alongside pianist Kevin J. Miller. He will perform new songs by Black composers including Jasmine Barnes, Margaret Bonds, Shawn Okpebholo, and Damien Sneed. These songs utilize texts drawn from Langston Hughes, Claude McKay, Georgia Douglas Johnson, James Weldon Johnson, and other great Black writers of the Harlem Renaissance.

“These past years have been a trial, both for humanity as a whole, and the African-American population here in the United States,” Brownlee said in a statement, “but, through all these many challenges we have faced, I have also seen moments of strength, inspiration, hope, and great beauty. It is those themes of uplift, elevation, and rebirth that we have tried to focus on with this new project ‘Rising,’ taking poems from the giants of the Harlem Renaissance, and working with some of today’s most talented African-American composers, to create something that speaks not just to our struggles, but to our triumphs.”

PUC Director Marna Seltzer said when Brownlee made his PUC debut in 2018, he focused part of his program on traditional spirituals

“It is exciting to have him return to Princeton with a new project that focuses entirely on celebrating Black artists from the Harlem Renaissance through a contemporary lens. Creating space for music to speak to our history — past, present, and future — is at the heart of PUC’s mission,” Seltzer said.

Brownlee will also be visiting Trenton Public Schools with Trenton Arts at Princeton to work with middle school music students as part of PUC’s “Neighborhood Music Project.” He will perform for and rehearse with students, as well as facilitate discussions around music.

The concert will be held at the Richardson Auditorium in Alexander Hall, Princeton University at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are priced at $25-40 for general admission and $10 for students. To purchase tickets, visit: puc.princeton.edu or call 609-258-9220.