Karen Slack’s “African Queens” free community concert in Winston-Salem
Updated: 4:02 AM EDT Jun 10, 2026
Piedmont Opera concludes its season with “African Queens,” a free community concert created and performed by Grammy-Award-winning soprano, Karen Slack. The performance is Winston Thursday, June 18 at 7:30pm at First Baptist on Fifth in Winston-Salem serving as a way to kick off Winston-Salem’s annual Juneteenth celebration. It is presented in partnership with The John W. and Anna H. Hanes Foundation, Triad Cultural Arts and the North Carolina Black Repertory Company, all coming together to celebrate culture and music. According to the Piedmont Opera, African Queens celebrates the history and legacy of seven extraordinary African queens—revered figures whose stories remain underrepresented in Western cultural narratives.The program combines powerful new works by composers including Jasmine Barnes, Damien Geter, Jessie Montgomery, Fred Onovwerosuoke, Will Liverman, Shawn Okpebholo, Dave Ragland, Carlos Simon, and Joel Thompson, along with traditional repertoire, spoken word, and visual art.The Piedmont Opera General Director, Joseph Mechavich joined WXII 12’s Audrey Biesk for a preview of what attendees can expect. Click on the video player above to watch the full interview. Click here for tickets.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. —
Piedmont Opera concludes its season with “African Queens,” a free community concert created and performed by Grammy-Award-winning soprano, Karen Slack.
The performance is Winston Thursday, June 18 at 7:30pm at First Baptist on Fifth in Winston-Salem serving as a way to kick off Winston-Salem’s annual Juneteenth celebration.
It is presented in partnership with The John W. and Anna H. Hanes Foundation, Triad Cultural Arts and the North Carolina Black Repertory Company, all coming together to celebrate culture and music.
According to the Piedmont Opera, African Queens celebrates the history and legacy of seven extraordinary African queens—revered figures whose stories remain underrepresented in Western cultural narratives.
The program combines powerful new works by composers including Jasmine Barnes, Damien Geter, Jessie Montgomery, Fred Onovwerosuoke, Will Liverman, Shawn Okpebholo, Dave Ragland, Carlos Simon, and Joel Thompson, along with traditional repertoire, spoken word, and visual art.
The Piedmont Opera General Director, Joseph Mechavich joined WXII 12’s Audrey Biesk for a preview of what attendees can expect. Click on the video player above to watch the full interview.
Click here for tickets.