The African-American Contribution to American Culture

Adat Shalom is thrilled to welcome Denyce Graves, Emmy and Grammy Award winner and Global Music Ambassador for the United States to Shabbat Voices on Saturday, January 17th. Ms. Graves will speak twice, at once during our Shabbat service, and again after lunch. She will also be joined by accompanying artists, Symone Harcum (Soprano), Elliott Brown (Tenor), and Elizabeth G. Hill (piano). Click here to learn more.

American mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves has captivated audiences across the globe for over four decades, gracing the world’s most esteemed opera houses and concert halls. Ms. Graves has championed world premieres of operas and song cycles, garnered numerous prestigious awards, and triumphed in elite international competitions. Her defining operatic portrayals include the eponymous heroines Carmen and Dalila, and more contemporary Margaret Garner in The Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson. In the 2025-2026 season, Ms. Graves returns to the Metropolitan Opera as Maria in Porgy and Bess.

Beyond her illustrious performing career, Ms. Graves is a dedicated educator and esteemed faculty member at the Juilliard School and the Peabody Conservatory. In 2021, Ms. Graves founded The Denyce Graves Foundation to support vocal artists at every stage of their careers while honoring the trailblazers who came before. The Foundation’s mission is to cultivate and elevate exceptionally gifted singers from all backgrounds, ensuring they have the resources and guidance to reach their full potential. Ms. Graves will retire at the close of the Metropolitan Opera’s Porgy and Bess this January 24th.

Sponsored by Jaime Banks & Jon Grossman, Rabbi George Driesen and Family, Yael Septee Kane & Donald Kane, Joyce & Nelson Migdal, Marcia Nusgart, and Phil & Marla Zipin. Learn more about their honorees here.

UPCOMING SPEAKERS