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The National Black Arts Festival (NBAF) is proud to announce the winner of the prestigious $10,000 Horizon Award for Emerging Artist: Harpist, Angelica Hairston.

Angelica Hairston is an Atlanta-based harpist, educator, sound practitioner, and change-maker. Renowned for her mastery of the harp and dedication to amplifying the voices of the African Diaspora, her performances intersect wellness and liberation, drawing global acclaim and garnering notable engagements like her 2023 Artist Residency at Palm Heights Resort in Grand Cayman, and 2024 appearances at esteemed venues like Carnegie Hall, the Brooklyn Museum, and the Woodruff Arts Center.

This highly coveted award is given annually to an up-and-coming artist of African descent who excels in music, visual arts, or film and has been working in their respective fields for at least three to seven years. Since 2021, the NBAF has granted $80,000 in awards to deserving emerging artists.

“At $10,000, the NBAF Horizon Award for Emerging Artists is one of the largest grants to new artists available in the Metro Atlanta area, making it such an exciting and prestigious honor to be able to bestow upon an artist each year,” says NBAF Artistic Director, Oronike Odeleye.

“Angelica Hairston was not only unanimously chosen by our panel of celebrity judges for her talent and dedication to her craft, but she is also the first harpist to receive the award – and may be the first professional Black harpist many people have ever seen. We are so happy to support her career and look forward to her continuing to break professional barriers and expand the artistry of the genre as Black artists always do!”

The winner of this auspicious award was determined by a highly qualified group of celebrity judges in music that included R&B group Jagged Edge, award-winning drummer John “Lil John” Roberts, and TV personality and entrepreneur Trina Braxton.

The NBAF Horizon Award will be presented at the NBAF’s ‘Celebration Under the Stars’ fundraising concert on Saturday, October 19th at the Wolf Creek Amphitheater. Hosted by V-103’s Big Tigger and featuring special appearances from Trina Braxton (WEtv’s The Braxtons), Terri J. Vaughn (The Steve Harvey Show), Karon Joseph Riley (BET’s The Black Hamptons), and Headkrack (Dish Nation), NBAF Celebration Under the Stars will showcase headlining performances by Tweet, Keke Wyatt, and Marsha Ambrosius.

For tickets, please visit nbafcuts.org/tickets.

 

About NBAF Celebration Under the Stars 

NBAF Celebration Under the Stars is an upscale garden art party celebrating all that NBAF has accomplished throughout the year to present the best and brightest in Black art. This festival-style fundraiser features live performances, an artisan vendor market powered by Amazon, a Fine Art print sale, food vendors and concessions, and more!

NBAF invests over $600,000 annually in the Black arts community via free public art programs, in-school youth arts education, artistic grants, and professional and career development training.

By supporting NBAF’s Celebration Under the Stars, you help sustain a vital resource for the funding, promotion, and appreciation of Black art!

 

Photo Credit: www.nbaf.org