MUSIC SCENE Afro Opera's Maiya Stevenson "A Message from the Roots" 2/1

In this episode of Music Scene, Nanette Wiser welcomes an extraordinary young woman and singer. From Childs Park to Carnegie Hall, soprano and Gibbs High School arts graduate Maiya Stevenson has a dream. Both in her current day job as a music teacher for K-5th graders and her Afro Opera LLC, this St. Petersburg native hopes someday to perform at Sydney Opera House and other legendary venues.
👉She is the proud founder of her entertainment company Afro Opera LLC, a company dedicated to educating and exposing audiences to the beauty of classical music. Afro Opera hosted a successful Black History Month concert in February 2024, featuring works by African- American composers, drawing an audience of about 250 people. Maiya has been an elementary music teacher in Pinellas County Schools for six years, continuing to share her passion for music with the younger generation. She strives to educate how the classical era of music brings a positive impact to society, and she hopes to open up more of a diverse pathway for others to showcase their love for the arts as well.
👉On Sunday February 1 @4pm, Maiya and Afro Opera will perform "A Message from the Roots," a black history month concert for the third year at St. Petersburg First Methodist Church (212 3rd St. N) in downtown St. Pete. Showcasing both spiritual African American music and songs as well as classical delights, Maiya is joined by soprano Ashley Thunder, tenor Kevin Mitchell and pianist Yohance Wicks. the concert is free and open to the public.
👉Ms. Stevenson is also a city of St. Petersburg ambassador and has performed alongside members of The Florida Orchestra. 
HER STORY Maiya Stevenson has always excelled as a superior student and musician. She is an alumnus of the Pinellas County Center for the Arts at Gibbs High School. After graduating from the magnate program, she enrolled at Florida A&M University.
The St. Petersburg, Florida, native chose music as her discipline. Maiya Stevenson has competed and won numerous singing competitions; the Grady Rayam Negro Spiritual Competition, 1 st place; the Tallahassee Opera Guild, 1st place; St. Petersburg Opera Guild, 1st place; and the Omega Psi Phi Talent Hunt Competition, 1st place.
👉 She has performed at various events in the greater capital city area (Tallahassee, Florida), including the 2016 graduation ceremony at Florida A&M University. In 2017, the celebrated soprano was one of only two soloists, appearing with the Young Adult Honors Performance Series, at Carnegie Hall in New York City. After her stellar solo performance in the song “My Good Lord’s Done Been Here” composed by Dr. Andre Thomas (former music director of Florida State University), she was hailed as “the next Leontyne Price” by the composer himself.
👉The nationally acclaimed Vocal Performance major has a bright future awaiting her. After graduating from Florida A&M University in the spring of 2017, she was awarded a position as an understudy for leading role of Donna Anna in the illustrious opera, “Don Giovanni” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. This legendary opera was featured at the 6th Varna International Opera Academy in Bulgaria.
AFRO OPERA UPCOMING EVENTS
1. Valentine's Day concert called "Tales of Heartstrings", which will be held at the Palladium Theater in St. Petersburg, FL on Sunday, February 15th and doors will open at 3:00 PM. General admission is $20 and VIP is $40. Maiya will be singing romantic operatic art songs in the French, Italian, and English languages, and it will also feature a classical pianist, a violist, and a cellist. There will be complimentary desserts, and the music portion of the concert will be followed by a live gameshow! It's going to be very fun and interactive.
2.  James Museum Music Night on  April 14th from 5:30-7:30 PM. Tickets are $10 to view the museum and to listen to some classical tunes by Maiya and Yohance Wicks on the piano. 

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