Our Voices Rise Together

Name: Our Voices Rise Together
Start: 2026-02-28T19:00:00-05:00
End: 2026-02-28T19:00:00-05:00
Location: Toy F. Reid Eastman Employee Center

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Our Voices Rise Together

Event Details

Our Voices Rise Together

February 28, 20267:00 pm Toy F. Reid Eastman Employee Center 423-392-8423 423-392-8423 Free

KINGSPORT, TN – Symphony of the Mountains and Eastman present an evening celebrating the power of community through song. This special concert brings together acclaimed soloists and choirs from across East Tennessee for a diverse program spanning gospel, international choral traditions, and contemporary works.

Please reserve your seat for this FREE performance for the community!

Featured Artists:

Amythyst Kiah – Grammy-nominated artist and East Tennessee native

On her new album Still + Bright, Tennessee-bred singer/songwriter Amythyst Kiah explores the vast expanse of her inner world: her deep-rooted affinity for Eastern philosophies and spiritual traditions, a near-mystical connection with the natural environment, the life lessons learned in her formative years as a self-described “anime-nerd mall goth,” and much more. Produced by Butch Walker (Taylor Swift, Green Day, Weezer) and recorded at his Nashville studio, Kiah’s second full-length for Rounder Records merges her revelatory storytelling with a darkly cinematic twist on the rootsy alt-rock of her 2021 breakthrough Wary + Strange—an LP that landed on Rolling Stone’s list of the 25 Best Country and Americana Albums of 2021 and drew acclaim from major outlets like Pitchfork. With its sonic palette encompassing everything from fuzzed-out guitars and industrial-leaning beats to gilded pedal steel and Kiah’s exquisitely graceful banjo work, Still + Bright makes for a vital new addition to a body of work largely dedicated to exploring the struggle and joy of true self-discovery.

The latest turn in a dynamic career that’s included joining Our Native Daughters (an all-women-of-color supergroup also featuring Rhiannon Giddens, Leyla McCalla, and Allison Russell), Still + Bright emerged from a deliberate transformation of the songwriting process Kiah adopted after composing her first song on a Fender acoustic at age 13. To that end, the album marks her first time opening up her approach and working with co-writers, including punk legend Tim Armstrong, Sadler Vaden (a guitarist/vocalist for Jason Isbell’s 400 Unit), and former Pentatonix member Avi Kaplan. Although her third LP is an undeniable departure from the anguished emotionality of its predecessor (an album informed by losing her mother to suicide at age 17), Kiah imparts each track with a hypnotic intensity born from boldly stating her convictions. Revealing her rare ability to spin her fascinations into songs uncovering essential truths about human nature, Still + Bright ultimately affirms her as an artist of both daring originality and uncompromising depth.

Michael Rodgers – A Celebrated Baritone and Educator

Michael Rodgers, a distinguished baritone from Knoxville, Tennessee, has made significant contributions to the region’s musical and educational landscape. With over 30 years of experience as an educator in Knox County Schools, Rodgers has enriched the lives of countless students while simultaneously building a remarkable career in music. As a Special Education Teacher at Maynard Elementary and South Knoxville Elementary Schools, he has dedicated himself to fostering a nurturing learning environment for his students.

Rodgers holds a Bachelor of Arts from Knoxville College, the only surviving Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in East Tennessee, and a Master of Music from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. His commitment to education and the arts is evident through his board roles with the Knoxville Opera, the Joy of Music School, and organizations like Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity and the Knoxville College National Alumni Association.

As a baritone opera singer, Rodgers is well known for his powerful performances with the Knoxville Opera and the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, particularly during the MLK Celebration Concert spirituals. His influence extends to regional ensembles such as the Symphony of the Mountains, where he has performed as a bass-baritone soloist in premieres and jubilees, and the Oak Ridge Phil-Harmonia. Rodgers is also associated with the African American Voices of Chattanooga, further solidifying his impact on the East Tennessee orchestral circuit.

Rodgers played a pivotal role in founding “Knoxville Opera Goes to Church,” an initiative aimed at making opera more accessible to diverse communities. Alongside the current Knoxville Opera director, he helped establish the Knoxville Opera Children’s Choir, dedicated to nurturing young talent and promoting music education.

In May 2025, Rodgers delivered an inspiring performance at Knoxville College’s 150th Commencement in the McMillan-Reese Chapel, earning a standing ovation as a renowned Knoxville Opera singer and proud alumnus. His commitment to community benefits through concerts and educational initiatives continues to resonate across Knoxville and beyond, ensuring his legacy as a prominent figure in the regional music scene.

Jay Flack – “Urban Folk” expressionist artist and East Tennessee native