In the tradition of honoring historic African-American figures this month, the University of Puget Sound will be presenting “A Musical Evening With Langston Hughes,” featuring internationally-known singer Awilda Verdejo, on Feb. 19 in Schneebeck Concert Hall. The event will give Tacoma the rare opportunity to hear the well-loved African American writer’s poems set to music by a variety of 20th-century composers.

Guest performer Verdejo, dramatic soprano, has performed internationally in title roles in operas including “Madam Butterfly,” “Jenufa,” “Tosca"and “Aida.” While at The Juilliard School in New York, she was a member of the American Opera Center and subsequently sang at the New York City Opera, the Kennedy Center in Washington, the Los Angeles Music Center, and the Stuttgart Opera in Germany. Originally from Puerto Rico, Verdejo has performed in Salzburg, Munich, Mexico City, Vienna, Rome, Brazil and Cairo. From the late 1990s she began singing spirituals, an experience, she said, that “stripped me naked,” as she sang on a bare stage with no costumes or set. She went on to record a CD of spirituals and today sings across both genres.

On her feelings about the upcoming UPS performance, she states that, “I have never done a concert with the poetry of one man put to music by so many diverse composers. I can truly say it is one of the most exciting projects I have ever taken on. I am honored and humbled to sing the emotional richness of poetry and music so exquisitely expressed by both poet and composers.”

“A Musical Evening With Langston Hughes"was developed by Keith Ward, director of the School of Music, and Hans Ostrom, professor of English and Dolliver NEH Professor. Ostrom has also studied Hughes’ work and published “A Langston Hughes Encyclopedia"in 2002.

“The idea for this event arose out of conversations between Hans Ostrom and me,” Ward said. “We thought it would be a welcome addition to Black History Month, as did other groups across campus.”

“Hughes is an enduring, beloved American writer who was especially attentive to the struggles, joys, and sorrows of ordinary people,” Ostrom said. “In addition to writing poetry, he produced works in many other genres, including the musical theater.”

Ward said the concert “will be a celebration of a poet whose works have inspired composers from across the musical spectrum. There will be something for everyone to enjoy performed by one of the Pacific Northwest’s finest artists.”

“We hope the audience will take away a memorable evening from a performance that will include solo and choral song as well as readings of Hughes’ poetry,” Ward said. “We thought a program based on Langston Hughes’ work would be a particularly appropriate way to mark Black History Month and create a program that would appeal to a broad audience.”

The accompanists for the performance will be Hartwig Eichberg on piano and Ron Welch on cello. Co-sponsors of the event, which is part of the Jacobsen Concert Series, include the Dolliver NEH Professorship, the African American Studies Program, the University’s Race and Pedagogy Initiative, Black Student Union, and chief diversity officer. The Office of Public Events is producing the event.

The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. and last about two hours. The concert will be appropriate for any child from middle to high school age. Admission is $12.50 for the general public and $8.50 for seniors (55+), non-Puget Sound students, and Puget Sound faculty and staff. It is free for current Puget Sound students. For tickets, contact Wheelock Information Center or order by credit card by calling (253) 879-3419. Any remaining tickets will be available at the door. A public reception will be held after the event in Room 106 in the Music Building.

The University of Puget Sound is located at 1500 N. Warner. Schneebeck Concert Hall is easily accessed from the Thompson Hall parking lot; the entrance is opposite North Union and North 14th streets. For more information, call Keith Ward at (253) 879-3783, or send e-mail to kward@pugetsound.edu. Guests can also follow this event and other events at the college at www.pugetsound.edu or www.twitter.com/univpugetsound.