Hazel Scott was a legendary musician known for putting her own twist on the classical Chopin and Bach. Reviewers said she blended elements of jazz and even boogie woogie into the classics crafting an entirely different sound. In addition to her nimble fingers, Hazel also harbored a power house voice that was reminiscent of a young Judy Garland.

Hazel was born in 1920 with a gift. The Trinidadian beauty was the daughter of a West African scholar, R. Thomas Scott and Alma Scott, a classical trained pianist from Liverpool, England. She inherited her mother’s gift of creating music and started to play the piano by ear at three years old. Once Alma realized her toddler daughter possessed such an ability she abandoned her dream of becoming a concert pianist to enrich her daughter’s talent.

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Opera singer Angela M. Brown is trying to bring her passion to her people. Brown has developed a recital program called “Opera…from a Sistah’s Point of View” where she hopes to encourage appreciation for the classical music sound. The Indianapolis-born singer was inspired to create the program after repeatedly looking out into the audience and seeing “a sea of monochromatic people.”

But it’s not just about color, Brown wants to debunk the myth that opera is something only older, rich people enjoy. She says she’s especially passionate about letting children know the world of opera and classical music is not closed to them.

“I needed to be able to step up my game and at least let people know I’m here, especially kids. It’s my way of contributing to the cultural atmosphere and letting them know, I’m here and there are people who look like you here.”

You can read the rest of Brown’s story over at Black Voices.

Have you ever been to an opera, you enjoyed?