She Writes The Songs
Miss America 2019 Nia Franklin Will Be Featured Composer / Pianist at CAAPA’s Fourth Annual “Sopranos Slay 2020.” Six Opera Singers of Color Also Scheduled To Perform
Nia Franklin PHOTO: AMIR STOUDAMIRE // PRINCE GEORGE’S SUITE MAGAZINE & MEDIA
This year, the 2019 Miss America Nia Franklin will take the stage in another role when she joins the Coalition for African Americans in the Performing Arts (CAAPA) Jan 25.
Franklin will be the featured composer and pianist at the popular performance.
“I want America to see that classical music is still alive and thriving, especially that an African American woman is singing opera,” said Franklin. “Because there are so many kids out there [who] don’t know that they can do classical music.”
Prince George’s favorite annual opera concert, Sopranos Slay®, will once again bring the region's top performers together for an evening of phenomenal performances. This year’s concert features Miss America 2019 Nia Franklin, an opera soprano, composer, and pianist for an encore presentation from last year’s appearance. This year, she will perform some of her original music.
CAAPA will showcase the region’s top Black sopranos at the Bowie Performing Arts Center, 15200 Annapolis Road, Bowie, Maryland.
2019 SOPRANO SLAY VOCALISTS
The 501c3 non-profit arts organization, dedicated to “Bringing Color to the Classics!”® advocates for diversity both on the stage and in the audience on behalf of Black classical musicians, youth, opera singers, and others in the performing arts.
CAAPA’s fourth annual Sopranos Slay® concert features the eight classically trained sopranos who use arias, Negro Spirituals, jazz, pop, and Broadway as a platform to portray beautiful and powerful women in all walks of life. The performers of the evening are Meroe Adeeb, Marquita Cooper, Shonda Devine, Elise Jenkins, Brittney McNeill, and Nia Franklin, as well as Miss America District of Columbia Outstanding Teen 2019 Kianna Kelly-Futch, who is also an accomplished classically trained vocalist.
Without halting the celebration of 2020, the musical celebration will also deliver an educational element to help listeners navigate the actions of the powerful women in opera. Dr. Lester Green, CAAPA’s artistic director, will accompany the singers during the show, while Ciara Simonson narrates. A special presentation in honor of Executive Director of the Arts Administrators of Color, Quanice G. Floyd is being made for her work in the community.
“This is a phenomenal moment in Prince George’s County to highlight our contribution to the arts in this region and celebrate our connectivity to the world stage,” said Prince George’s Arts and Humanities Council (PGAHC) Executive Director, Rhonda Dallas. “PGAHC is excited to be a program partner with CAPPA in this year’s Sopranos Slay concert welcoming Miss America 2019 Nia Franklin to the inspired embrace our county leadership, residents and youth.”
Concert attendees are invited to make their ticket purchases benefitting the organization’s youth programs and scholarships by visiting https://www.tix.com/Event.aspx?EventCode=1167030.
