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“The Church Says Amen: Music of the Black Church”

March 2, 2024, 7:00 pm

Choir of Pentecostal Church on Chicago's South Side, April 1941 (Photo: Russell Lee, via Library of Congress)

On this episode of Sounds Classical, Kristina and LaRob peer inside of the Black Church to explore the history, spirit, and importance of the sounds within. LaRob shares a bit of its history and music transformation, while exploring the power of this music in the 21st century.

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Sounds Classical is made possible, in part by, Sylvia Furner and the members of the WFMT Fine Arts Circle.

Meet the Hosts

LaRob K. Rafael joined the WFMT announcing staff in 2020 as a fill-in host and became WFMT’s full-time weekend morning host and producer in Fall of 2021. A Bass-Baritone from the DMV area (Maryland), LaRob has been involved with music since childhood and is a graduate of DePaul University, where he studied Vocal Performance. He has since gone on to work with arts organizations including Lyric Opera of Chicago, La Caccina (a professional women’s ensemble), Black Opera Alliance, Black Administrators of Opera, and Sphinx Organization to name a few. He is the Founder and Artistic Director of Hearing in Color and combines his experience and research to change the predominantly white, European, male classical canon.

Kristina Lynn is a producer and host at WFMT, presenting both Sounds Classical with LaRob K. Rafael, and Evening Music on Friday nights. She has hosted live performances and artist interviews with the Rush Hour Concerts and has done voiceover work for the WFMT Radio Network. With an easygoing approach, Kristina aims to welcome all types of listeners to classical music and explore the art form from a 21st-century perspective. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree specializing in Trumpet Performance from DePaul University. Before announcing at WFMT, she has previously worked in radio production at both WFMT and at WQXR in New York.

Weekend Mornings with LaRob K. Rafael

Weekend Mornings with LaRob K. Rafael

“The Church Says Amen: Music of the Black Church”