Eric Banks

Choral Director

Composer, conductor, and translator, Eric Banks has harnessed his passions for foreign languages, poetry, social justice, and natural science to create works that reach far beyond the scope of the established a cappella canon. He has been awarded three composition grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as the Dale Warland Singers Award from Chorus America and the American Composers Forum. His works have been commissioned by and performed in 30 countries worldwide. Banks is a member of American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.

Bluz

Master of Ceremonies

Bluz is the I Once Was Lost But Now Am Found Master of Ceremonies. He a four-time Emmy Award winner and the slam master and coach of SlamCharlotte that won back to back National Poetry Slam victories in 2007, 2008, and a historic 3rd win in 2018. Bluz has shared the stage with poets and speakers Nikki Giovanni, Dr. Cornell West, Sonia Sanchez, and Gil Scott Heron and recording artists Outkast, John Legend, The Last Poets, Del La Sol, and KRS ONE. He is the author of three books of poetry, released three albums, and has performed at FLY POETS LA, Nuyorican poets Café, and Bowery Poetry Club.

Herrison Chicas

Spoken Word Poet

Herrison Chicas is a renown spoken word artist whose work centers around the Latinx identity. Chicas’ poetry has been featured on major platforms such as Public Radio International, Univision, BET, and various TED talks. He has been invited to perform across the country in institutions such as the Smithsonian Anacostia Museum, Dartmouth College, Duke University, and others. Currently, Chicas is a PhD student at UNC’s Kenan-Flagler Business School studying the Latinx experience in the workplace and the broader society.

Jaki Shelton Green

Poet

Jaki Shelton Green is the first African American and third woman to be appointed as the North Carolina Poet Laureate. In 2018, Governor Cooper stated that “Jaki Shelton Green brings a deep appreciation of our state’s diverse communities to her role as an ambassador of North Carolina literature. Jaki’s appointment is a wonderful new chapter in North Carolina’s rich literary history.”

Green is the author of eight collections of poetry including Dead on Arrival, Masks, Feeding the Light, I Want to Undie You among others. Her poetry has been published in over eighty national and international anthologies and featured in magazines such as Essence and Ms. Magazine.

Deem Malik

Spoken Word Poet

Deem Malik is a practicing Sunni Muslim of West Indian decent who loves his faith, his heritage, and his family. Malik specializes in love poems and political poems. He is known for his use of imagery, symbolism, personification, and the freckles on his face. In 2018, Malik won the annual writing challenge at the close of the International Hip Hop Festival and was titled the Iron Poet of that year. He has been a feature poet online internationally via Instagram, Zoom, Podbean, and Blogtalk Radio. Malik has performed in India, Ghana, Nigeria, Canada, the US, the UAE, the UK, and The Republic of Ireland.

Shane Manier

Spoken Word Poet

Shane Manier is a Creative Coach, Poetry Mentor, Artist, Live Painter and National Spoken Word Poet based in NC and founder of the nonprofit Guerilla Poets. She is currently the Spoken Word and Arts Teaching Instructor for Behailu Arts Academy, Harvey B. Gantt Center, Henderson High School and Playing for Others. In 2011, Manier was the youngest poet to ever be inducted in the Poetry Council of North Carolina and has been recognized as a National Poet performing with Respect Da Mic Slam Team 2017-2019.

Kevin Mayes

Composer

Kevin Mayes is a musician, composer, and arranger currently living in Austin. He’s been a music director for various theater productions as well as vocal ensembles of various sizes and configurations. Mayes was the Artistic Director of Bailiwick Chicago, a theater company in Chicago, and worked as a professional actor in both NYC and Chicago for many years.

David Tang

Choral Director

David Tang is the founding director of the Firebird Arts Alliance and its’ chorus, VOX. The Alliance is dedicated to building community by fostering new and innovative artistic collaborations throughout the Charlotte-Mecklenburg region. Tang is also the Director of Music at Sharon Presbyterian Church.