Faculty Recital: Dr. Ty Chiko, baritone

Dr. Ty Chiko & Dr. Ya-Ju Chuang present Mahler & The Music of Black Liberation This recital explores the connection between the colonial past and the ongoing quest for freedom. Gustav Mahler and poet Friedrich Rückert serve as examples of how Eastern artistic traditions have influenced Western thought, while highlighting human spirituality in nature. Black composers such as H. Leslie Adams, Betty Jackson King, H.T. Burleigh, and Dave Ragland give voice to the Black experience, drawing on themes of spirituality, resilience, and resistance in the face of oppression. Together, these artists—across time and cultures—share a vision of hope for a more just and liberated future.