SCHEER BEAUTY
An Evening with Gene Scheer and the Generational Voices Artists
Monday August 17th at 6pm
Fletcher Hall
"The petals on a rose"
Audrianna Hughes
"Lean Away"
Symone Harcum
"Omaha Beach"
Henrique Carvalho
"Holding Each Other"
Hannah Jones
"A penny buys the bread"
David Morgans & Audrianna Hughes
"To wit"
Henrique Carvalho, Thomas Balfour-Austin, and David Morgans
"Be the glory"
Symone Harcum
"American Anthem"
Ensemble
The Denyce Graves Foundation is proud to present Scheer Beauty, a special concert celebrating the extraordinary music and artistry of acclaimed American librettist, lyricist, and composer Gene Scheer.
Join the talented artists of Generational Voices for an unforgettable evening featuring selections from Scheer’s remarkable body of work, and avcareer that has helped shape the landscape of contemporary American opera and song. Through powerful storytelling, lyrical elegance, and deeply human characters, Scheer has become one of the most influential creative voices in the performing arts today.
Known for his celebrated collaborations with some of the world's leading composers, Scheer has written the libretti for numerous groundbreaking operas, including Moby-Dick, Cold Mountain, Three Decembers, It’s a Wonderful Life, Everest, Intelligence, and The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay. His works have graced the stages of the world's most prestigious opera houses, including the Metropolitan Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Santa Fe Opera, and many others.
The past year alone has been extraordinary. The Metropolitan Opera presented the company premiere of Moby-Dick, with The New York Times praising Scheer’s libretto as "an economical wonder." The Met also opened its 2025–26 season with the world premiere of The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, created with composer Mason Bates. Meanwhile, Intelligence, his collaboration with Jake Heggie, received a new production and its recording recently earned the 2026 Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording.
Beyond opera, Scheer's songs have been championed by some of the greatest singers of our time, including Denyce Graves, Renée Fleming, Joyce DiDonato, Stephanie Blythe, Lucas Meachem, and Nathan Gunn. His beloved song "American Anthem," famously performed by Norah Jones in Ken Burns' Emmy Award-winning documentary The War, has become an enduring expression of hope and unity.
As a special highlight, the evening will also celebrate Scheer's continued creative legacy as he prepares for the world premiere of The Judgment of Paris, a new opera with composer Jake Heggie debuting this summer at the Napa Music Festival before traveling to the renowned Opera de Versailles.
Scheer Beauty offers audiences a rare opportunity to experience the work of one of America's foremost musical storytellers while witnessing the next generation of vocal artists bring his music to life.
Come celebrate the power of storytelling, song, and artistic legacy through an evening that promises to be both inspiring and unforgettable.
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Generational Voices is an innovative career accelerator that surrounds exceptional emerging artists with an intergenerational Artistic Council dedicated to guiding their professional journey. Each artist is supported by a carefully assembled team of legendary performers, internationally recognized artists, distinguished educators, artistic administrators, conductors, coaches, health and wellness experts, financial advisors, and industry leaders who provide individualized mentorship, strategic career guidance, and professional advocacy.
Working together, the Council helps artists navigate every stage of career development—from artistic refinement and repertoire selection to auditions, contracts, networking, financial planning, personal well-being, and leadership.
Through meaningful relationships, performance opportunities, industry introductions, and targeted financial support, Generational Voices equips artists with the knowledge, confidence, and community needed to build sustainable, impactful careers.
This distinction immediately sets DGF apart; It conveys that no one person has all the answers. Instead, each artist benefits from the collective expertise of multiple generations and disciplines—legendary performers, today’s leading artists, administrators, wellness professionals, financial experts, and others—all working together to help that artist build not just a successful career, but a meaningful and sustainable life in the arts.