Trilogy: An Opera Company facts for kids

Trilogy: An Opera Company (Trilogy: AOC) is a special group that creates and performs operas. It is a non-profit organization, which means it uses its money to support its goals rather than making a profit. Trilogy: AOC is based in Newark, New Jersey.

This company focuses on producing amazing art that comes from the music and life stories of Black people. They believe in high quality and celebrating different voices. They also work to support the community of Black artists.

The Story of Trilogy: An Opera Company

Trilogy: AOC started in 2004. The idea for the company came from a talk between Sharpe James, who was the mayor of Newark at the time, and Kevin Maynor, an African American opera singer. They wanted to create a cultural gift for the people of Newark, New Jersey.

At first, it was planned as just one festival. But it was so successful that people decided to form a committee. This led to Trilogy: AOC continuing to put on shows. The company is officially a 501c3 organization, which is a type of non-profit group. Trilogy: AOC performed its first show at The New Jersey Performing Arts Center on November 23, 2014.

Who Writes the Music?

Trilogy: AOC performs works by many talented Black composers. They also feature music by famous composers like Scott Joplin. Other composers whose works they develop include Michael Raphael, Dorothy Rudd Moore, Charles Lloyd Jr., Adolphus Hailstork, Richard Thompson, Trevor Weston, T. J. Anderson, Anthony Davis, and Julius P. Williams.

Amazing Opera Shows

Trilogy: AOC has put on many exciting productions. Some of their shows include "Robeson" and "The Mask in the Mirror". They have also performed The Ballad of James Byrd and Darfur: a Dramatic Cantata. A cantata is like a story told with music, often for singers and an orchestra.

They also produced 4 and Nat Turner by Michael Raphael. The cast of Nat Turner included famous singers like Angela Brown, a soprano (high female voice), and Kevin Maynor, a bass (low male voice). This production also featured a twenty-two member ballet group and an orchestra of African American musicians. There was even a sixty-member children's chorus from Harlem, New York! Jeffrey Fairweather conducted Nat Turner, Amiri Baraka directed it, Adrienne Armstrong created the dances, and Chantal Wright led the chorus. Many of their first performances were conducted by Julius Penson Williams, who is their Resident Conductor and Music Director.

In 2016, Trilogy: AOC presented a new opera called Five, written by Anthony Davis. The story for the opera, called the libretto, was written by Richard Wesley. This work was later made shorter and renamed The Central Park Five. This version premiered at the Long Beach Opera in 2019. It was so good that it won the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 2020!

Who Helps Trilogy: AOC?

Many different groups and foundations have supported Trilogy: AOC. These include The Starry Night Fund, The Lambent Foundation, and the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation. Banks like PNC Bank, City National Bank, and Investors Bank have also helped.

Other supporters include The Prudential Foundation, The Puffin Foundation, The Modell Foundation, Pfizer, and The Victoria Foundation. Their help allows Trilogy: AOC to continue creating wonderful opera performances.