William Warfield Scholarship Fund 2026 Benefit Concert: “Let Freedom Dream”

The William Warfield Scholarship Fund, Inc. (WWSF) Board of Directors proudly invites you to attend its 49th Annual Benefit Concert on Sunday, January 18, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. in Kilbourn Hall. This year’s event, themed “Let Freedom Dream,” will feature current Eastman student Darrin John Nicholson II ’28E, baritone, alongside a stellar lineup of acclaimed performers, including:

• Kearstin Piper Brown, award-winning soprano

• Thomas Warfield, WWSF President Emeritus, artist, and pianist

• Jimmie Highsmith Jr, GRAMMY-nominated saxophonist and flutist

• School of the Arts (SOTA) Jazz Ensemble

• Concert Emcee Deanna Dewberry, Anchor and Investigative Reporter for News10 NBC and WHEC-TV

The 2025 William Warfield Legacy Award will be presented to Opera Ebony Co-Founder and pianist Wayne Sanders, who will participate in a special pre-concert chat with Julia Figueras, former Music Director and mid-day host for WXXI Classical.

WWSF President Lolita Forsett shares that this year’s concert theme aims to deliver the message: “The sky is still the limit.” 

Tickets are $50 (plus box office fees) and $10 for students with a University of Rochester ID.  

*Please contact Jamila Evans Rogers, WWSF Marketing Chair, at (585) 485-3388 or jhrogers25@gmail.com for more information.