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The First Trip
The First Trip
Long before I stood on stage as a conductor and composer, I stood there as a student.
As a member of the choir at East Chapel Hill High School, I had the opportunity to travel to New York City and perform at Carnegie Hall under the direction of Dr. Jeffrey Redding in 2012. The trip was made possible through the encouragement and advocacy of my high school choir director, Desiree Davis Umboro, who consistently challenged me to see possibilities beyond what I could see for myself.
At the time, I did not fully understand the significance of the experience.
I simply knew that I loved music, loved singing, and loved being part of something bigger than myself.
What I could not yet see was how many of the lessons learned during that experience would shape the rest of my life.
The repertoire, the community, the collaborative spirit, and the belief that extraordinary things become possible when people come together would eventually become foundational elements of my own work.
Full Circle
Full Circle
Years later, after becoming an educator, community builder, and creative leader, Carnegie Hall unexpectedly re-entered my story.
Following collaborations connected to ACOBE, CHROMATICA, and community-centered artistic work throughout North Carolina, conductor and educator Dr. Chris Hansen invited me into a new opportunity connected to Carnegie Hall performances and community choir experiences.
What began as a simple invitation quickly became something much larger.
Rather than simply participating, I found myself envisioning an experience that could represent the people, philosophies, and communities that had shaped my journey.
I accepted the opportunity and proposed a program titled Journey Through the Nourishment Cycle.
At the time, I committed to something that felt both exciting and terrifying: I would debut original music.
A culmination of community, creativity, education, and artistic identity.
A culmination of community, creativity, education, and artistic identity.
In 2024, I had the opportunity to present and conduct Journey Through the Nourishment Cycle at Carnegie Hall, bringing together nearly one hundred singers, educators, students, artists, family members, and community participants from North Carolina and beyond.
While the performance took place on one of the world’s most iconic stages, the experience was never about Carnegie Hall itself.
It was about the people, relationships, opportunities, and moments that made the stage possible.
The project represented the convergence of nearly every chapter of my life: student, educator, conductor, producer, composer, community builder, and artist.
For the first time, all of those identities occupied the same space.
Featuring a collaborative ensemble of artists, educators, students, and musicians from across North Carolina —primarily representing the Triad region—this performance celebrated the power of community, creativity, and collective artistic excellence.
About The CHROMATICA Collective
The CHROMATICA creative collective was birthed from the annual ACOBE (A Celebration of Black Excellence) Festival Mass Choir experience in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Now, CHROMATICA takes several forms, including small vocal ensembles, mass choirs, instrumental ensembles with the intention or creating community access to musical community, interaction and performance. We create community when we are called to create!
Embracing Unity through Music
As a collective, we explore new places, travel together, and immerse ourselves in diverse experiences, igniting personal growth and enlightenment. Through our shared passions, we create a symphony of community, where every member plays a significant part in shaping a brighter and more interconnected world.
LISTEN TO THE CARNEGIE REPITOIRE
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