S01:E12 Elraka: From Shirley Verrett to sharing the music of the African Diaspora through the unique lens of black classically trained musicians.

In this episode: Listen to a conversation between your host Vivienne Aerts and Erika "Elraka" Banks, as they discuss the road from Michigan and her studies with Shirley Verrett, to being an active musician in New York City, while being a voice for music from the African Diaspora as Co-Founder of the H. T. Burleigh Experience and Communications Director of the Juneteenth LP About Erika Banks Erika Banks is a charismatic soprano whose diverse vocal training in classical, jazz and musical theater has kept her busy as an active musician in New York City. She received her BM and MM in vocal performance from the University of Michigan, where she studied with the late legendary Shirley Verrett. Banks-Alvarez is Co-Founder of the H. T. Burleigh Experience and Communications Director of the Juneteenth LP, two musical endeavors committed to sharing the music of the African Diaspora through the unique lens of black classically trained musicians. http:/:elrakabanks.com ⁠⁠Facebook⁠ / ⁠YouTube⁠ / Instagram About ViviTalks - Interviews with the Women Behind Typuhthâng. Introducing ViviTalks, a podcast hosted by Dutch New York-based musician Vivienne Aerts. Join us as we celebrate 100 talented female musicians from Vivienne's latest album "Typuhthâng," with a mission to empower female cacao farmers in the Virunga State Park of Congo and contribute to rainforest restoration. We delve into the musical journeys, creative processes, and unique perspectives of these talented women, seeking to bring greater balance to the music industry. It's a safe space for honest and authentic conversations with artists and trailblazers. Let's amplify the voices of remarkable women in music and stay tuned for inspiring stories and meaningful dialogues on ViviTalks. ⁠⁠Stream⁠⁠ the Album or ⁠⁠Buy it on Bandcamp⁠⁠ and get the chocolate! ⁠⁠More about Vivienne here.