About the Concert
 

The Voices We Carry is a celebration of Black poets and composers whose artistry continues to shape our understanding of identity, belonging, memory, and possibility. Through music by Florence Price, Margaret Bonds, Rosephanye Powell, Edward Hart, and Robert Owens, the concert explores poetry by Langston Hughes, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Georgia Douglas Johnson, Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, and others. The program traces connections between generations of artists, celebrating not only the challenges they encountered but also their creativity, imagination, and enduring contributions.

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Three Chapters. One Continuing Conversation.

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I. Voices Inherited

Roots & Early Voices

We begin by honoring the poets and artistic traditions that laid the foundation for generations to come. Through poetry and song, we explore the relationship between inherited history, personal expression, and cultural memory.

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II. Voices Becoming

Identity & Imagination

The second chapter examines the transformative possibilities of imagination and artistic collaboration, particularly through the poetry of Langston Hughes and the music of Florence Price and Margaret Bonds.

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III. Voices Forward

Legacy & Hope

Our final chapter considers how artistic legacies continue through living voices. Music and poetry become invitations to listen, reflect, and participate in shaping what comes next.

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Meet the Artists

Christon E. Carney | Tenor & Artistic Director

Christon E. Carney is a tenor, educator, and arts administrator whose work connects performance with cultural storytelling, creative learning, and community engagement. A graduate of New England Conservatory and Lipscomb University, Carney develops artistic experiences that invite audiences to encounter important voices and stories through music. The Voices We Carry builds upon his earlier Musical Inspirations work, expanding a personal exploration of poetry and song into a broader conversation about community and cultural inheritance.

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Ulysses Loken | Piano​​​​​​​

Ulysses Loken is a pianist, composer, and educator based in New England. His most recent appointments include those at College of the Holy Cross, Clark University, and Tufts University. Ulysses Loken joins Christon E. Carney as the collaborating pianist for this performance. Learn more at www.ulyssesloken.com

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Plan Your Visit

Sunday, November 22, 2026
7:00 PM

Hadwen Park Congregational Church
6 Clover Street
Worcester, MA 01603

Admission is free, and everyone is welcome.

REGISTRATION (Optional)​

For event information or accessibility questions, contact christon.carney@gmail.com.

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About Musical Inspirations

Musical Inspirations is an evolving artistic project connecting classical vocal music with poetry, storytelling, and cultural exploration. Through thoughtful programming and community collaboration, the project creates opportunities to encounter music in conversation with history, literature, and lived experience. The Voices We Carry is an invitation to consider how artistic voices move through generations, and how each of us contributes to what is remembered, shared, and created next.

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With Gratitude

This program is supported in part by a grant from the Worcester Arts Council, a local agency, which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.