AGAVE and soprano Michele Kennedy explore images of motherhood and the feminine divine through the ages as told through the voices of brilliant female composers. Delve into the intersections of spirituality and incarnation, grief and hope, and, ultimately, transformation. From 17th-century Italian convents to Viennese salons to the Underground Railroad and the legacy of slavery in the American South, this program presents a powerful and vivid journey into the heights and depths of the human experience. Featuring works by Barbara Strozzi, Antonia Bembo, Pauline Viardot, Clara Schumann, Camille Nickerson, Margaret Bonds, and Florence Price.

“Versatility must be Kennedy’s middle name…The tone [of this album] is set by an inspired reading, brought to exquisite realization by Kennedy and AGAVE.”

- Textura.org (reviewing AGAVE: In Her Hands)

This live concert experience explores the Black and Indigenous influences on Dvořák during his time in America. The program weaves original Native American melodies and uplifting African American Spirituals along with Dvořák’s most beloved chamber music. Videos and imagery add to this powerful multimedia experience. Cultural Crossroads with its stellar cast of musicians is a catalyst for audience engagement as it entertains, educates, and inspires, drawn from the curiosity of a Czech composer a century ago.