Voices in Solidarity: Baltimore’s Black and Jewish Operatic History
Opera Baltimore has been awarded a $50,000 Maryland Heritage Areas Authority (MHAA) grant to launch Voices in Solidarity. This is a bold, place-based heritage tourism initiative exploring the shared histories of Baltimore’s Black and Jewish communities through music, conversation, and public learning.
Rooted in Baltimore’s Jonestown neighborhood and powered by collaboration with the Jewish Museum of Maryland and the Reginald F. Lewis Museum, this project activates cultural landmarks with site-specific programming that only Baltimore can deliver.
What’s Coming
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Concerts
A full-length performance featuring works by Black and Jewish composers which blends opera, jazz, and spirituals to tell stories of migration, resilience, and cultural exchange.
Community Conversations
Dialogue-driven events at historic venues including Baltimore Hebrew Congregation and Shake & Bake Family Fun Center, where personal histories meet public memory.
Public Learning
Interactive sessions connecting opera to jazz, Jewish musical heritage, and the evolution of Baltimore’s soundscape.
Place-Based Performances
Events across Jonestown and beyond, transforming how we see—and hear—our city’s history.
Featured Artists
Sara Duchovnay, soprano and granddaughter of Holocaust survivors
Daniel Rich, baritone and Baltimore native raised in Liberty Heights
Dr. Nicole Steinberg, Cultural Programs Coordinator and lead strategist for community engagement
Together, they bring experience and artistry to the work of historical reckoning and creative healing.
WHY NOW?
In a time of division, Voices in Solidarity uses the voice to bridge histories, build empathy, and claim Baltimore as a national hub for cultural reconciliation.
The project launches in late 2025 and runs through 2026, culminating in a landmark concert and community celebration.