Karen Slack's African Queens at First Baptist Church on Fifth

Piedmont Opera is proud to present African Queens, a community concert curated and performed by Grammy Award-winning soprano Karen Slack, at First Baptist on Fifth in Winston-Salem on Thursday, June 18, 2026, at 7:30 PM. The event is a free community concert underwritten by The John W. and Anna H. Hanes Foundation, with pre-show discussion tickets available for purchase.

This performance will serve as the kickoff event for the Winston-Salem Juneteenth celebration, presented in collaboration with Delta Arts Center, Triad Cultural Arts Alliance, and the North Carolina Black Repertory Company, underscoring a shared commitment to celebrating Black history, culture, and artistic expression across the region. By removing financial barriers through underwriting support, Piedmont Opera ensures that this powerful cultural experience is accessible to all members of the community.

African Queens artistically honors the history and enduring legacy of seven powerful African queens whose stories have often been marginalized or overlooked in Western cultural narratives. The program blends vocal performance and spoken word to celebrate leadership, resilience, and cultural pride—reclaiming these women not as footnotes in history, but as forces who shaped nations and continue to inspire generations.

Known for her commanding stage presence and rich, expressive voice, Slack is one of the most celebrated sopranos performing today, captivating audiences on many of the world’s most prestigious stages. She also made history creating the role of Billie in Fire Shut Up in My Bones by Terence Blanchard—the first opera by a Black composer performed at the Metropolitan Opera. For African Queens, she has assembled a diverse and compelling musical program featuring works by contemporary composers Jasmine Barnes, Damien Geter, Jessie Montgomery, Fred Onovwerosuoke, Will Liverman, Shawn Okpebholo, Dave Ragland, Carlos Simon, and Joel Thompson, alongside traditional repertoire.

Joining Slack for this special Winston-Salem presentation is renowned pianist Kevin Miller, whose dynamic artistry and wide-ranging musical intelligence have made him a frequent partner to some of today’s most celebrated vocalists.

African Queens was first premiered in 2024 and subsequently presented at major venues and festivals, helping establish it as one of the most important new classical programs centered on Black heritage and women’s leadership in music.