Festival Mahogany
Introducing Festival Mahogany
Rutgers University–Camden presents Festival Mahogany, a celebration of classical music featuring award-winning conductor Marlon Daniel, who will lead the Camden-based Symphony in C orchestra in two spectacular concerts with renowned virtuoso cellist Ifetayo Ali and scintillating soprano Karen Slack.
Extraordinary classical musicians of color have been and continue to be marginalized and underrepresented. Many artists of African descent do not have the opportunity to advance within the field of classical music and, therefore, the public does not have the chance to recognize the abundance of talent already present.
Festival Mahogany challenges this social norm by providing a world-class platform designed to highlight these artists while simultaneously creating new audiences.
Festival Mahogany creates a platform for the brightest diverse stars in classical music. The festival supports artists while simultaneously educating the public and inspiring the next generation of classical musicians.
Tour de Force
Masterworks Concert
Friday, February 28, 2025 | 7 p.m.
Walter K. Gordon Theater
The concert will feature Symphony in C under the baton of conductor Marlon Daniel, alongside the rising star cellist Ifetayo Ali. This program highlights the diversity within the French classical music repertoire, beginning with Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, one of the first known composers of African descent, who has experienced a significant resurgence in recent years. It should also be noted that this year, 2025, also marks the 150th anniversary of Maurice Ravel’s birth and the 280th anniversary of the birth of Joseph Bologne.
Symphony in C
Marlon Daniel, Conductor
Ifetayo Ali, Cello
Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges (1745 – 1799)
Symphony in G Major, Op. 11, No. 1
Lili Bouglanger (1893 – 1918)
D'un matin de printemps
Camille Saint-Saëns (1835 – 1921)
Cello Concerto No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 33
Maurice Ravel (1875 – 1937)
Pavane pour une infante défunte
Francis Poulenc(1899 – 1963)
Sinfonietta
Shattering the Glass Ceiling:
Symposium and Chamber Concert
International Symposium on Classical Musicians of African Descent
Saturday, March 1, 2025 | 2 p.m.
Walter K. Gordon Theater
Rutgers University–Camden Chancellor Antonio D. Tillis moderates a panel of diverse internationally renowned classical artists. Conductor Marlon Daniel, cellist Ifetayo Ali, soprano Karen Slack, and composers Tania León, and Fred Onoverosuke discuss the state of the arts and culture in the 21st century.
This conversation will examine the “glass ceiling” and how it has changed throughout history for people of color in the arts and how to improve diversity, equity and inclusion in the world of classical music.
Composer Spotlight Concert I:
Fred Onovwerosuoke and Imani Winds
Fred Onovwerosuoke
Four More Dances for Wind Quintet
Maurice Ravel
Le Tombeau de Couperin
Unusual Suspects:
Chamber Concert
Saturday, March 1, 2025 | 7 p.m.
Walter K. Gordon Theater
Composer Spotlight Concert II:
Tania León and The Joyner Duo
Tania León
De Color for Violin and Cello
Maurice Ravel
Sonata for Violin and Cello
Composer Spotlight Concert III:
James Lee III and Ensemble du Monde
James Lee III
String Quartet No. 3 (Untranslatable)
Maurice Ravel
String Quartet in F Major
American Portrait
Masterworks Concert
Sunday, March 2, 2025 | 2 p.m.
Walter K. Gordon Theater
This concert features the esteemed conductor Marlon Daniel and the vocally ravishing soprano Karen Slack in a program that highlights their remarkable artistry and the diversity of the classical music repertoire.
Symphony in C
Marlon Daniel, Conductor
Karen Slack, Soprano
Florence Price (1887 – 1953)
Adoration
William Grant Still (1895 – 1978)
Symphony No. 5 “Western Hemisphere”
Richard Strauss (1864 – 1949)
Vier letzte Lieder
Antonín Dvořák (1841 – 1904)
Symphony No 9 in E Minor, Op. 95 “From the New World”
Festival Mahogany at Rutgers University–Camden is a testament to the institution's visionary leadership in the arts. By promoting Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity, the festival challenges racial gatekeepers, breaks the glass ceiling, and overcomes barriers that have historically prevented access and advancement for artists of color. In the post-George Floyd era, this event serves as a powerful reminder of the transformative power of the arts in fostering a more inclusive and equitable society.
For questions to related to Year of the Arts events, please call 856-225-6095.