Arts

CCA presents Lift Every Voice: The Music of Stevie Wonder

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Tuesday, 17 February 2026

Written by Amber Little

Get ready to take a journey through the soulful sounds of multi-award-winning Stevie Wonder for the 7th annual Lift Every Voice and Sing: A Musical Journey through Black History event, presented by the Cumberland Choral Arts.
A vocal experience unlike any other, Lift Every Voice takes audience members on a journey through Black history with Black musicians. Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, located at 400 Campbell Avenue, will host this year’s event on Saturday, Feb. 28 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 and $5 for students. They can be purchased online at https://secure.givelively.org/event/cumberland-choral-arts/lift-every-voice-and-sing-the-music-of-stevie-wonder.
While February is the designated month for Black history, the impact of Black ingenuity can be seen and felt every day. The sound of America has been heavily influenced by the groundbreaking music and lyrics of Black artists and continues to shape current trends on the airwaves. The seed for Lift Every Voice and Sing: A Musical Journey Through Black History was born in 2008, when founder Brenda Vandervort-Miller moved to the area and attended several Black History events. She realized that while there were plenty of events that focused on history and celebration, none actually approached it from a musical perspective.
In 2019, as she was watching Beyoncé’s Homecoming performance, inspiration hit.
“Hearing her sing Lift Every Voice and Sing, I had a ‘light bulb moment’.... I grabbed my iPad and created a tentative program, which eventually became the first Lift Every Voice and Sing: A Musical Journey Through Black History. Our first show was performed on February 22, 2020. We're now 6 years and 7 shows in,” she reflected.
Vandervort-Miller, a native New Yorker, found her voice early and has worked under some of the industry's most prominent teachers and mentors, such as Ms. Claudia Cummings. Her accolades are many and include her time as a principal with the Festival Theatre of New York and The Opera Company of the Highlands, the second recipient of the Cumberland Oratorio Singers Award, and the first recipient of the Methodist University Hall of Fame award for outstanding achievement in the arts.
After her graduation from Methodist University, Vandervort-Miller spent her time in New York City on the stage, taking on roles like Carmen Jones, Queenie (in Show Boat), and as part of the ensemble in The Magic Flute. She’s also had the distinction of being chosen as the Mezzo Soprano Soloist in Handel’s Messiah at West Point Military Academy.
When she returned to North Carolina, she didn’t slow down. She joined the Cumberland Choral Arts and has made it her second home. Since her return, she not only founded Lift Every Voice and Sing: A Musical Journey Through Black History, but she has also featured as the Mezzo Soprano Soloist for CCA’s productions of Handel’s Messiah, Britten’s Rejoice in the Lamb, Mendelsohn’s Midsummer Night’s Dream, and the 30th anniversary production of Mozart’s Requiem.
Vandervort-Miller and Cumberland Choral Arts work tirelessly to bring this once-a-year production to life.
“I am truly thankful to my Cumberland Choral Arts family and the Board of Directors for their continued support of LEVAS. I'd also like to thank the music director for our show, Chris Colon, and the other performers: Corey Leak, Monique Butler-McLeod, Dr. Denise Payton, Jared Payton, Jamele Lrato, Deidra Baldwin, and Joy Vandervort-Cobb. They are each immensely important to the success of our show, and I couldn't do this without them,” Vandervort-Miller commented.
A family-friendly event, LEVAS is more than singing.
“Our shows are educational, approachable, and fun! We strive to create a relaxed, light-hearted show that will have our patrons leave feeling uplifted and inspired to learn more about the music or artists we honor,” she remarked.
The theme each year is the choice of Vandervort-Miller, something she doesn’t take lightly, choosing artists and themes that oftentimes go underrepresented and are lesser known. In addition to the regular program, LEVAS will be paying tribute to legendary Gospel singer Richard Smallwood.
Stevie Wonder is a household name and carries a whole generation in his heart. His songs can be heard in movies, commercials and music lovers' car radios. His lyrics are a familiar sound and can get anyone singing along.
“Stevie is a music icon and a pillar of the Black community. He's contributed so much not only to our community, but to American culture, as an activist for social justice and for the handi-capable community, in addition to his music. I feel that it is important to shine a light on his accomplishments,” Vandervort-Miller said of this year’s choice.
Cumberland Choral Arts has been a vital part of this community since its inception in 1991.
“A 1991 performance of Mozart’s Requiem, commemorating the 200th anniversary of the composer’s death, brought together a group of local singers under the baton of Mr. Alan M. Porter, the chair of the Music Department and Director of the Fine Arts Division at [what was then called] Methodist College. The ensemble enjoyed singing together so much that they became the genesis for the Fayetteville-based mixed adult community choir, the Cumberland Oratorio Singers, now known as Cumberland Choral Arts. Dedicated to bringing classical choral works to the greater Cumberland County area, the group has expanded its repertoire to include jazz, opera, spirituals, standards, and music from the stage and screen,” Vandervort-Miller said.
For more information on Cumberland Choral Arts, visit https://www.cumberlandchoralarts.org/.

(Photo: The voices of Cumberland Choral Arts will Lift Every Voice and Sing on Saturday, Feb. 28. Photo courtesy of Cumberland Choral Arts Facebook Page)

FSO sets the stage for "Night on the Town"

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Tuesday, 10 February 2026

Written by Sheila D. Barker

The Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra invites audiences to experience an evening of vibrant sound, artistic exploration, and urban-inspired energy with “A Night on the Town,” taking place on Saturday, Feb. 28, at Seabrook Auditorium on the campus of Fayetteville State University. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m., with the concert beginning at 7:30 p.m., promising a dynamic night of orchestral music that bridges classical traditions with modern influences. Tickets for the concert may be purchased online at https://www.fayettevillesymphony.org, by contacting the FSO office at 910-433-4690, or at the door on the evening of the performance.
At the heart of February’s program is Nightlife, a genre-blending concerto for double bass by Kebra-Seyoun Charles, who will also perform the work as soloist. Charles, the 2022 Sphinx Competition winner, brings a fresh and deeply personal voice to the stage, drawing inspiration from their experiences living in New York City.
The concerto’s two movements flow seamlessly through baroque textures, gospel rhythms, waltz-like elegance, and jazz-infused improvisation, creating what Charles describes as a musical playlist that captures the pulse and diversity of urban life.
Charles has appeared on prominent stages around the world, including Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Kagoshima Jazz Festival, the Aspen Music Festival, and the Library of Congress. Their career reflects a dual dedication to performance and composition, as well as a broader mission to foster inclusivity within classical music.
During their visit to Fayetteville, Charles will also lead a masterclass at Fayetteville State University, offering students and musicians a rare opportunity to engage directly with a contemporary composer-performer.
“This concert really embodies the spirit of curiosity and artistic growth that has defined this season,” said Jessica Munch-Dittmar, Executive Director of the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra. “As we near the close of Maestro Stefan Sanders’ remarkable tenure, 'A Night on the Town' is a powerful moment to gather as a community, experience something new, and honor the impact this orchestra continues to have on Fayetteville.”
The concert holds additional significance as it marks the second-to-last performance of Maestro Stefan Sanders’ farewell season, concluding his nine-year tenure as Music Director of the FSO. Sanders’ final season has celebrated innovation, collaboration, and community engagement—hallmarks of his leadership with the orchestra. The Symphony’s 2025–2026 season finale will feature the iconic music of John Williams, while Sanders will also conduct the FSO’s Side-by-Side concert with the Fayetteville Symphony Youth Orchestra and a special performance at the Cape Fear Botanical Gardens in March.
"A Night on the Town" is the Symphony’s fifth concert of the 2025–2026 season, and a fitting celebration of artistic energy, community connection, and a legacy of musical excellence. More information about this concert and the FSO’s many free events and performances can be found at https://www.fayettevillesymphony.org/.

(Photo courtesy of Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra's Facebook page)

Reconnecting with real life: A conversation with Amy Grant

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Tuesday, 10 February 2026

Written by Anna White

“I feel like a big page in my life was turned starting in 2020—bigger than any other page I ever remember,” Grant contemplated. Of all the changes between her last Fayetteville concert in 2010 and her upcoming Feb. 20 concert, changes heralded by the COVID-19 pandemic stand out in her mind. They left her more invested in her passions than ever, and now, on the cusp of a special announcement.
2020 wrote unexpected chapters into lives across the nation and world. For Grant, it was both a challenge and an opportunity. It was also the first in a series of abrupt events.
Over the last six years, Grant has undergone open heart surgery for a congenital heart defect, suffered a head injury from a bike accident that required a long recovery and left her with memory recall issues, and had several additional surgeries. Yet, she keeps moving forward with measured intention, and Feb. 20 marks more than her return to Fayetteville.
“I am starting to promote some new music, and Feb. 20 is the day that the second song from that project is going to come out,” Grant shared. “We're also going to announce the name of my new record.”
One song from the record, “The 6th of January (Yasgur’s Farm)” is already available on streaming platforms. Grant says the second song is titled “The Me That Remains,” and attendees at her Fayetteville concert will be among some of the first to hear the new release live.
The challenges and opportunities of 2020 started with quarantine orders. Only two shows into that season’s tour, Grant’s remaining shows were canceled.
“For somebody whose livelihood and work is done in spaces where people gather, that was a huge change,” she recalled. On the other hand, the upended plans and extended quiet time gave Grant space to rediscover the beauty and therapeutic quality of songwriting.
“Songs don’t just fall out of the sky,” she said of her new album. “You have to sit in the quiet and go ‘What do I have to say?’” She doesn’t consider herself a prolific songwriter and instead tends to write inspired by lived experience. The process requires practicing contemplation, a natural fit with the pace of life Grant already prefers. “I try to live in the present,” she shared. With life’s rhythms upended by the pandemic, she leaned further into contemplation.
“You know, I started writing when I was 15, and I just did it to help process my thoughts and to remember different experiences,” she shared. Those early songwriting sessions were what she calls the “juvenile version” of her current creative process. Following quarantine, surgeries, and accidents, she spent time in recovery, even noting that post-pandemic, everyone seemed to be in recovery-mode. Grant found herself laying hold of the same songwriting toolkit from her youth, but this time, intentionally. “Oh my gosh, this is good medicine!’” She remembers thinking as she immersed herself.
“I write a song when something has impacted me—an experience or a conversation,” Grant pinpointed. That heartfelt impetus not only underscores her songwriting but also keeps her collaborating. “The best part for me was just writing the songs—or finding the songs—and the experience of creating the music together in community with other musicians,” she said. “You just realize the power of music again, and it’s such a good thing.”
Grant says she’s noticed not only her own, but other people’s thought processes changing since 2020. She thinks people started reevaluating their priorities.
“I don’t think any of us take anything for granted anymore,” she explained. “We realize the things that matter and the things we kind of have to fight and stand up for.”
Her own priorities have redoubled towards helping people be “in real time.” The goal is to encourage and energize her audience. She sees a connection between cellphones and anxiety, and wants to ground listeners in the unfiltered experience of live music.
“I tell people, when you buy a concert ticket, you’re paying for every mistake you hear. This is real people trying their best and sometimes it's a swing and a miss, but it’s real,” she shared. “If nothing else, it’s two and a half hours that we’re not looking at a screen. You’re not going down some rabbit hole that’s going to make you compare yourself to somebody else.”
Part of preparing a concert program includes “deep-diving” into prior concert catalogs and paying attention to which of her songs are most listened to. Knowing some fans attend her concerts every time she’s in town, she wants to make sure they never hear the same concert twice.
“Maybe 10 songs need to be the same, but the other 14, they should change,” she explained. Each song is thoughtfully chosen so that, according to Grant, audience members think, “Oh my gosh, I haven’t heard that one!” or “That reminds me of high school!”
“I feel so grateful that somebody takes their hard-earned money and their valuable time—I mean, time is really our currency—and they say ‘I want to spend an evening with you and your music,’” Grant said.
From the audience, fans sense her intentionality.
“I had no idea how much energy, talent, and audience appeal she had,” said Michael Fleishman, attractions director for Community Concerts, the Fayetteville nonprofit that facilitated her 2010 and upcoming concert. “I remember thinking [in 2010], ‘We’ve got to have her back.’”
Community Concerts, founded in 1935, is Fayetteville’s oldest art organization. Fleishman noted that Grant’s 2010 visit coincided with the nonprofit’s 75th season. Her 2026 visit coincides with their 90th season.
“Here we are at another landmark season,” he shared. “The audience is in for a real treat.”
Working closely with the Crown Complex, Community Concerts continue their long-standing legacy of bringing history-making artists to the Fayetteville area.
“We work together to make every show we can a first-class event,” said Fleishman of the Crown Complex. Gary Rogers, director of marketing at the Crown Complex, called Grant’s concert “a rare chance to experience a legendary artist in an intimate setting,” and celebrated the shared commitment to high-quality, diverse artistry that keeps the Crown Complex and Community Concerts in partnership.
Fleishman recalled the many artists Community Concerts has brought to Fayetteville over the decades. He says they cherish the touching memories made with each other, and Grant is no exception.
“Of all the artists I've met over the years, she’s right at the top of the list in terms of being a genuinely good person. I can’t say enough nice things about her,” he enthused. “You’re looking at a 6-time Grammy winner and a show I guarantee you’ll love.”
After a night of music, Grant hopes people walk away feeling energized on the inside and hopeful through hardship.
“If a song can help you wrap your arms around your own life, it can help you see yourself in the context of your community and the world,” she shared. “It can remind us of things we don’t necessarily talk about all the time, like the love that undergirds all of life.”
Amy Grant performs “Take a Journey Through Songs, Stories, and Memories” Feb. 20 at the Crown Theater. Tickets can be purchased at https://www.crowncomplexnc.com/events/detail/amy-grant or by calling the Crown’s box office at 910-438-4100. The Crown Coliseum is located at 1960 Coliseum Dr.

(Photos courtesy of Oak View Group and Community Concerts)

Lafayette Society creativity contests now accepting entries

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Tuesday, 10 February 2026

Written by Christopher Thrasher, Vice President of the Lafayette Society

The Lafayette Society is proud to announce that they are now accepting entries for the 2026 creativity contests. The Lafayette Society Creativity contests serve to encourage and promote excellence in creative expressions that express an appreciation for Lafayette’s timeless principles of liberty, equality, and tolerance. All contest entries, in all categories, should emphasize one or more of Lafayette’s timeless principles. Contest entries may, but are not required to, also highlight the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
The artist or author retains copyright of the submitted work. However, the artist or author grants the Lafayette Society the right to publish their entry, in any form, in perpetuity, by virtue of entering the Lafayette Society Creativity Contest. These uses may include, but are not limited to, fundraising opportunities which support the Lafayette Society’s mission.
The competition is open to current or former residents of Cumberland County and Fort Bragg/ Fort Liberty, as well as students currently attending a school, college, or university based in Cumberland County or on Fort Bragg/ Fort Liberty.
The guidelines to submit a piece for the contests are:
• One submission per individual, group, or team.
• All work must be the work of the listed artist(s) and or author(s).
• Proper credit should be given to all artist(s) and or author(s).
• The Lafayette Society assumes no responsibility or liability for the content of any submitted materials.
• Artists and authors are free, but not required, to provide a brief written explanation of their work in the text of the submission email.
• All entries must be submitted with a signed release form.
Awards will be given to the three top winners in each category. First place will receive $500, second place wins $300, and third place will take home $100.
The deadline for all entries in all categories is Feb. 14.
For the video competition, the contest is open to all forms of videos. The video must be under four minutes in length, and the rating should be PG13 or lower. Submission must be hosted on YouTube with a direct link sent to the email creativity@lafayettesociety.org.
For the Poetry Competition, the contest is open to all forms of poetry. Submission must be submitted through the email creativity@lafayettesociety.org.
The Visual Art Competition is open to visual art in all two-dimensional art categories including but not limited to digital art, graphic design, photography, painting, and drawing. Entries must be submitted electronically through the email creativity@lafayettesociety.org.
If the work was not created digitally, the artist(s) should submit a high-quality image of submitted work (no distracting background or uneven lighting) to creativity@lafayettesociety.org. Artist(s) should also submit an image identification (name of artist, title of work, media, scale, date completed) to creativity@lafayettesociety.org.
Do you have questions? If so, please contact the Lafayette Society at creativity@lafayettesociety.org