Dr. Darryl Taylor\, pioneering countertenor\, scholar\, and professor of voice at the University of California\, Irvine\, will present a lecture celebrating the centennial of composer Robert Owens (1925–2017). A leading interpreter and frequent collaborator with Owens and his music\, Dr. Taylor explores the composer’s life\, his collaborations with poets including Langston Hughes\, and the powerful legacy of his songs within the African American Art Song tradition. Through historical insight and musical illustration\, the presentation highlights how Owens’s work preserves cultural memory while continuing to inspire singers and audiences today. Join us for the lecture in Room 1378 of the Moore Building. Free and open to the public as part of the 2026 George Shirley Vocal and Composers Competition. ABOUT THE SPEAKER