When Marian Sang

WHEN MARIAN SANG: A Celebration of the Life of Marian Anderson

When Marian Sang, is a program centered around the young adult friendly book, When Marian Sang, by Pam Muñoz Ryan, which tells the life story of Marian Anderson, the first Black opera singer to sing a principal role at the Metropolitan Opera in 1955.

This book incorporates the lyrics to several spirituals, and “My Country Tis Of Thee,” which she sang at her famous performance at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. in 1939.

In this program, some of Nashville’s best classically trained Black singers perform all of the musical selections incorporated in this book, as the book is narrated.

Thank you to Nashville Opera’s sponsors and the Tennessee Arts Commission for their support of this project.

2026 Perfomances

Fisk University: John Hope and Aurelia Elizabeth Franklin Library
February 5th @ 5:30 p.m.

East Branch Library
February 14th @ 11:00 a.m.

National Museum of African American Music
February 17th @ 10:15 a.m.

North Branch Library
February 18th @ 10:00 a.m.

Bordeaux Branch Library
February 21st @ 3:00 p.m. 

Montgomery Bell Academy*
February 23rd @ 6 p.m.
*Private performance

The Rokeby*
March 5th @ 5:30 p.m.
*Private performance

National Museum of African American Music
March 7th @ 12:00 p.m.

Madison Branch Library
March 9th @ 10:30 a.m. 

Two Rivers Mansion
March 14th @ 2:00 p.m.

Artists