Opera Vermont has announced a groundbreaking, first-of-its-kind multi-year cycle dedicated to the operatic works of William Grant Still, known as the “Dean of African American Composers.”

The eight-year journey will present Still’s music in its full depth and diversity, beginning Nov. 14 & 15, 2025, with “A Bayou Legend,” and continuing Nov. 13 & 14, 2026, with the world premiere of his opera “Costaso.”

The works will be shown at the historic Chandler Center for the Arts in Randolph, Vermont.

In a statement, Joshua Collier, Artistic Director of Opera Vermont, said, “This is not just an operatic endeavor. This is a cultural commitment to honor William Grant Still’s legacy, to bring long-overlooked masterworks into the repertoire, and to ensure that Vermont becomes a place where history, music, and community converge in celebration.”

Opera Vermont also announced that it will partner with academic institutions to reach audiences beyond Vermont. The company will present a concert performance of “A Bayou Legend” at Clark University, while Graduate students of Longy School of Music of Bard College will perform comprimario roles and cover principal artists in Opera Vermont’s Randolph production, while also presenting their own fully staged fall semester production of the opera, with Opera Vermont’s Joshua Collier directing the production as well.

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