Valerie Troutt and The Curtis Family CNotes join in dialogue about music’s role in community—inspiring action and cultivating well being.

Drawing on a broad spectrum of African-American musical idioms from jazz and gospel to R&B and soul, Oakland vocalist and activist Valerie Troutt has been a creative force on the Bay Area music scene for the past 15 years. Dedicated to creating welcoming spaces for queer and BIPOC communities, she’s created sumptuous vocal settings for dance events, theater productions, and her own band, which is featured on her new album The Oakland Girl. Troutt explores the power of music to build community with CMC Faculty members,Maestro and Nola Curtis, and the Curtis Family Cnotes, a seven-member family band. Maestro and Nola teach voice and piano at CMC, a Vocal Harmony ensemble and an Older Adult Choir. The Curtis Family Cnotes integrates music and community service regularly – most recently collaborating with food distribution in Bayview Hunters Point to transform it into a soul-steeped celebration. Preston Justice, YBGF’s house emcee and the programmer of OMCA Friday nights, moderates the conversation.

This event will be conducted online via video conferencing. RSVP on Eventbrite to receive the link to join, emailed prior to the start of the discussion.

RSVP here!

Creative Voices

Hosted by Yerba Buena Gardens Festival and Community Music Center

This series pairs Yerba Buena Gardens Festival (YBG Festival) artists and Community Music Center (CMC) faculty to engage in musical dialogue and conversation about their music and its role in community—inspiring action and cultivating well being.

Join us for inspiring dialogue with these brilliant artists in the Creative Voices series:

• November 17: Composing for Racial Justice – Samora Pinderhughes with Marcus Shelby
• December 8: Music for Life – Ukulenny with Beth Wilmurt
• January 12: Mindful Singing in Community – Valerie Troutt with The Curtis Family C Notes

Co-Presented by