Enjoy highlights from the evening in the photo slideshow below. Photos by Camilla Calnan • camiphoto.com
On April 17, Reginald Golden & The Reginald Golden Singers brought Stony the Road to the Diana Wortham Theatre—an evening of powerful music rooted in James Weldon Johnson’s Lift Every Voice and Sing. Blending gospel, jazz, blues, and spirituals, the performance moved through themes of struggle, resilience, and triumph.
What made the night especially unforgettable was the presence of Asheville’s own voices on stage.
Following a community dinner and masterclass with Golden, local singers joined the ensemble for portions of the performance—transforming the concert into a shared experience. When these community members stepped into the music, the work’s message came to life in a new way: collective, immediate, and deeply felt.
“Programs like this help bridge the gap between performing arts centers and the many musicians and music educators throughout our communities. It was especially meaningful to welcome Reginald Golden—a fellow Howard University Bison—and experience the same standard of artistic excellence and powerful sense of connection through music instilled in us at our alma mater.” —Shana Tucker, Wortham’s Education & Engagement Director.
The result of that collaboration was more than a performance—it was a moment of connection. Professional artists and local voices stood side by side, lifting the room together in song and spirit.
One month later, the echoes of that evening remain—a reminder of what happens when a community doesn’t just witness art, but becomes part of it.
The Reginald Golden Singers at Wortham Center was made possible by performance sponsors: Craig Allen & Julie Cowden, Shiner Antiorio, Kirk & Lucy Borland, Leslie Connolly, John & Marsha Ellis, Hedy Fischer & Randy Shull, Richard & Francee Healy, Nancy Houha, Henry LaBrun, Amy Loether, Jerry McAninch, Gail & Brian McCarthy, Tina McGuire, Juliet Rains, Shelia Rains & Marjorie Sullivan, Albert & Judith Siemens, The Stewart/Meredith Trust, Dianne & David Worley, Diana Wortham, The Jones Connolly Pollock Group of Rockefeller Global Family Office, ArtsAVL and Buncombe County; with additional support from media sponsors Blue Ridge Public Radio, WNC Magazine, and Citizen Times | LocaliQ.
