Hear from our Presenting Partners
ACCOLADES
Morning Brown is a catalyst for collaboration between civic organizations, schools, and music programs for the joint cause of educating and exposing communities to the arts for cultural and economic good. We have partnered with over 58 organizations in more than 20 states.
Founder Angela Brown says she knows she has made a difference when students leave a performance mimicking or singing a song from the show in full voice. She says, “That’s when I know I “got ‘em! A seed has been planted.” Morning Brown waters and cultivates the next classical singers, musicians, conductors, stage managers, lighting designers, and even opera-goers from a new and multi-ethnic population. Our programs unabashedly demonstrate the diversity portrayed in music, particularly opera, and dismantle preconceived assumptions of classical music’s elitism to make everyone feel they belong in the art form.
Many times, our success is defined as one student at a time. At other times, an entire audience can be transformed. Morning Brown's mission succeeds when a school cafeteria full of third-graders enthusiastically learns how to "cheer" in Italian: "Bravo! Brava! Bravi!" Our mission succeeds when Black artists from a prominent university music program have a show mounted especially for them with music focused on Black subjects and themes. Our mission succeeds when a young singer confides in Angela they finally "see" themselves in an art form because Morning Brown provided a representative role model and performance platform where they felt they belonged and were seen.
“It was an amazing and life-changing experience for some of our students."
- Hallie Hogan, Music Chair, Elon University
“Stimulating excitement around opera and classical music is one of Morning Brown’s top priorities. In Opera…from a Sistah’s Point of View, the charismatic soprano makes operatic stories come alive with relatable storytelling that grips audiences.”
– Classical Music Indy, Indianapolis, Indiana
“Lyric is so grateful to have had the opportunity to present Angela to various communities throughout the city of Chicago. She immediately connected to each individual regardless of age or background and provided a musical platform to discuss the challenges and joys of life.”
– Lyric Opera of Chicago, Illinois
“For many of our students this was their first experience with opera – and what a first impression you made! The impact your performance, Opera…from a Sistah’s Point of View, had on our students cannot be summed up by words alone. Instead we hope the number of dropped jaws and astonished smiles, engaged questions and enthusiastic curiosity help to articulate the appreciation we all feel towards you.”
– Foundation Academy, Trenton, New Jersey
“Thank you for taking part as a guest speaker for the Indiana Fashion Week Youth Design Challenge and the Making it in Fashion Industry conference. Your personality was electric and captured the audience. It brought a real-life view to dreamers in a creative way where they saw it was possible.”
- Indiana Fashion Week 2019, Indianapolis
“Thank you for inviting the Alexander II Magnet School students to hear Angela Brown perform. The children loved listening to her and described her singing as a lasso that was tossed out, a rope which wrapped around the audience, and then a tug that pulled them back in! They were absolutely mesmerized by Ms. Brown’s glorious singing and her witty, charming stage presence, and they were beaming all the way back to school.”
– Alexander II Magnet School, Macon, Georgia
"The show provided access to over 1,200 students who got the chance to experience an exuberant and engaging performance and curriculum. The shows, targeted toward the neighborhood schools in the Franklin and Roosevelt region, were captivating and wildly successful. Student were enraptured by Ms. Brown and her ability to transcend the customary boundaries of the European canon and demystify the commonly misunderstood elements of opera as an art form. One student in particular commented on some preconceived pessimism she carried with her leading up to the show, but perspectives turned once she was able to hear Ms. Brown break down the content. This particular student of color gave testimony to seeing herself in Ms. Brown, and found comfort seeking opportunities to create her own dynamic destiny -- breaking barriers along the way."
– Portland Public Schools, Oregon
Our Presenting Partners:
Community Foundation of Greater Buffalo and Buffalo Public Schools, New York Foundation Academy Charter School, Trenton, New Jersey
Indianapolis Public Schools, Indiana
Indianapolis Opera, Indiana
Lyric Opera of Chicago – Lyric Unlimited, Chicago, Illinois
Georgia State University Harrower Opera Program, Atlanta, Georgia
The Atlanta Opera, Georgia
Fayetteville State University and Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra, North Carolina Portland Summerfest, Oregon
Columbus Arts Council, Mississippi
Opera Theatre of St. Louis Young Artists Program, Missouri
Asheville Symphony Orchestra, North Carolina
High Hodgson School of Music at The University of Georgia, Athens
Morgan State University, Maryland
Mercer University and Alexander II Elementary School, Macon, Georgia
Fairleigh Dickinson University, New Jersey
Indiana University, Bloomington
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
Illinois Central College and First United Methodist Church, Peoria
Cheyney University, Pennsylvania
University of Hawai’i at Mānoa
Gardner Webb University, South Carolina
Delaware State University, Dover
National YoungArts Foundation, Miami, Florida
Coalition for African Americans in the Performing Arts, Baltimore, Maryland
Eskenazi Hospital Concert Series, Indianapolis, Indiana
Mickey’s Camp, Indiana
Sun Valley Writers’ Conference, Idaho
The Walker Theater, Indianapolis, Indiana
Huntsville Chamber Music Guild and Ars Nova Music School, Alabama
Lu Vason Presents and Newman Center for the Performing Arts, Denver, Colorado
Marilyn K. Glick Propylaeum, Indianapolis, Indiana
Indiana Fashion Week – Youth Design Challenge and Making It IN Design, Indianapolis
Clarkesville Community Concert Association and Austin Peay State University, Tennessee
Clayton State University, Georgia
Spelman College, Georgia
Children’s Bureau of Indianapolis, Indiana
Seattle Opera, Washington
Cincinnati Opera, Ohio
Opera Birmingham, Alabama
Florida Grand Opera, Miami
Elon University, North Carolina
National Association of Teachers of Singing Eastern Region
Student National Association of Teachers of Singing, Indiana University, Indiana
Boulder Philharmonic, Colorado
Tyler Technologies Corporation, Indianapolis
CREATE Indy Grant, Indianapolis
Classical Music Indy, Indianapolis
University of Denver, Colorado
Peabody Conservatory Sylvia Green Vocal Competition, Maryland
Girls Empowerment, Indiana
Girls STEM Virtual Summer Camp, Indianapolis
Arts for Learning, Indianapolis
The Orchard School, Indianapolis
Lebanon High School Choral Program, Indiana
Freedom School of the Children's Defense Fund, Indianapolis
Indiana Performing Arts Initiative, Indianapolis
Indiana University Alumni Association, Bloomington
Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis 500
The PATH School, Indianapolis
The Indianapolis Foundation
Butler University Jordan College of the Arts, Indianapolis
University of Indianapolis
Glick Philanthropies
ABOUT MORNING BROWN, INC.
Morning Brown, Inc., is organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes, including introducing and exposing economically and ethnically diverse and multigenerational audiences to opera and classical music through live and recorded performances in the context of a wide array of musical genres. Morning Brown, Inc., is an exempt organization as described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Morning Brown, Inc. strives to provide communication, digital resources, and programs accessible to everyone. Communication is available by voice, text, email, and video conference. Digital resources in the form of our program companion curriculum and our website are available for download and are designed for multi-abled learners and users. Our performance partners (schools, performing arts organizations, and community centers) are selected based on their ability to provide a safe, accessible experience for all participants and attendees.
Morning Brown, Inc., is grateful for the support of Indy Arts Council and the City of Indianapolis and the National Endowment for the Arts that make programming and new works possible, furthering our mission.
For questions or more information, please contact Janet Jarriel, program administrator: phone/text: (404) 663-4135 or email: janet@morningbrown.org.
