The Abolition Hall of Fame will host “Singing a Journey of Freedom: Songs of Slavery and Emancipation Concert” in Utica, NY on June 16th.
Led by Dr. Kathy Bullock, the concert features the duo Mat Callahan and Yvonne Moore, and the Jubalo Singers performing works drawn from the Songs of Slavery and Emancipation project — a book, CD, and film by Mat Callahan, about songs of resistance, hope, and freedom composed more than a century ago and arranged for modern audiences.
“These songs were buried for over a century, but they never lost their power,” says Dr. Bullock. “Traveling the actual routes of the Underground Railroad—standing in the places where enslaved people sang, prayed, and fled toward freedom—transforms this music from history into lived experience. This tour is an invitation to hear those voices again, together.”
Underground Railroad related stops include Lexington, KY; Cleveland, OH; Niagara Falls, NY; Peterboro, NY; Lake Placid, NY; Greensboro, VT; Northampton, MA; Torrington, CT; and Harper’s Ferry, WV. At each site, concerts and workshops will celebrate the music’s historical context and its enduring call for justice.
The tour coincides with America’s 250th anniversary, focusing the national story on the voices of those who sang for true liberty.
This free event will be held at 7 pm on June 16, 2026, at Hope Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church, 751 South Street in Utica, NY; a reception will follow.
Registration is suggested by visiting the National Abolition Hall of Fame website. Please consider bringing a donation of non-perishable food to support the Hope Chapel Food Program.
Founded in 2004, the National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum in Peterboro, NY, honors American abolitionists and abolition history. The museum is open to the public weekends 12 – 4 pm June through October.
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