Pittsburgh’s unsung heroine who taught America to sing

In 1943, the National Negro Opera Company is set to perform on a floating barge to evade racially-segregated venues. But when bad weather threatens—pushing the performance to a segregated performance hall—visionary impressaria Mary Cardwell Dawson must find a way forward.

Mary Cardwell Dawson’s dream to provide access for African Americans to perform on stages for all audiences changed the future of opera. Having founded the longest-running, all-Black opera company here in Pittsburgh and organizing opera guilds in the country’s biggest cities, Mary Cardwell Dawson would go on to train hundreds of African American youth to sing.

CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS

A Soul Blast from TheSoulPitt.com goes out to thousands and those that they pass it on to!  All Soul Blasts are also posted on Soul Pitt's social media sites at no additional charge. To get a blast or other advertising, call 412.407.SOUL or email adsales@thesoulpitt.com

GET SOULcial with SOUL PITT!