Three-time Grammy winner Cécile McLorin Salvant is a composer, singer, and visual artist known for her rich contralto voice, captivating storytelling, and genre-defying style that bridges jazz, baroque, folkloric music, vaudeville, and the blues. Hailed by the late Jessye Norman as “a unique voice supported by an intelligence and full-fledged musicality,” Salvant is an eclectic curator, unearthing rarely recorded and long-forgotten songs. Her newest program, “Book of Ayres,” introduces a unique blend of folk song, merging early music and jazz with influences from Baroque music, vaudeville, and European and American folk traditions. Salvant’s latest album, Oh Snap, was released in September 2025.

The Brandee Younger Trio

Brandee Younger is revolutionizing the role of the harp in modern music. The first Black woman nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition, her original work Hortense was featured in the Netflix concert documentary Beyoncé: Homecoming. Her latest album, Brand New Life, is about forging new paths with purpose and respect for legacy, bringing the harp to broader audiences than ever before.