The Musical Soulmates Performers Collaborative brings dynamic energy, uncommon collaboration, and unbounded joy to the stage, delivering rarely performed gems by Black composers and songwriters to the audience and strengthening community by giving back through benefits and partnerships.
We represent and honor the foundational offerings to music by Black composers and songwriters, cultivate authentic relationships among the performers and in community, and radiate a vibrant presence modeling diversity and delivering empowerment, healing and joy.
Upcoming Events
Let the Caged Bird Sing III
Sunday, October 12, 2025
Doors open 4:15, Show at 5:00
Musical Soulmates Performers Collaborative and Walnut Avenue Family and Women’s Center Co-Present our third Annual:
A benefit concert in honor of survivors.
Sunday, October 12, Show at 5, Doors at 4:15, Dinner and drinks on sale
Silent Auction for WAFWC
Tickets on sale, $50 plus fees through October 10, $60 at the Door
Musical Soulmates and Walnut Avenue Family and Women's Center are thrilled to announce that we are co-producing this beloved event, a concert in support of survivors during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. This is a bold new step! We are excited to walk hand in hand into our premier venue, Kuumbwa Jazz Center, and, together with our audience, into our joy-filled, collective healing.
LTCBS III will be another uncommonly expansive collaboration: a vibrant, gorgeous evening of Neo-Soul with our Performers Collaborative Band (Kate Saphir Alm, Piano and Director, Etienne Franc, Bass, Zack Olsen, Drums) and Singers: Gina René, Ariel Thiermann, our multi hyphenate gem from, and artist in Residence 2024-2025, from Oakland: Candace Johnson, Anthony Jones, Sage Clearleaf , and our teen sensation Jocelyn Reyes. The show includes two songs just released by past Santa Cruz musician of the year Mak Nova, and, always a crowd favorite, a vocal selection featuring our Bassist: Etienne Franc. The evening of music is curated and designed to bring joy and energy to the room while holding space for and bearing witness to survivors, acknowledging the connection between colonialism and racism to domestic violence, empowering survivors, and bringing healing and transcendence to all.
Black Lives Matter
The Santa Cruz African American church community embraced and accepted Kate in the 90s, leading to long term community ties and sustaining Kate throughout her a 25 year immersion in Black Gospel music that included membership in the Gospel Music Workshop of America.
After singing with Gospel Music Workshop of America in Detroit, Kate brought the music back to the Santa Cruz Civic, forming a 50-voice youth choir to perform with her and with the late Sista Monica for UCSC’s annual MLK, Jr. Convocation, 2003. Shown here is current Performers Collab contributor, Michelle Nash, as a youth…
After George Floyd, Kate was moved to ask Juneteenth Santa Cruz if she could take the Juneteenth stage and contribute Freedom Songs written by Black artists and to support Black singers in singing them. An earier version of the Musical Soulmates Performers Collaborative, this array of Santa Cruz’ finest artists was called The Juneteenth Collective…
Join us in fulfilling our vision
Musical Soulmates is a nonprofit organization that is tax-exempt under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3). Contributions made to it are tax deductible, subject to the general limitations otherwise applicable to contributions for income tax reporting purposes. Musical Soulmates is also qualified to receive tax deductible bequests under Section 2055…: please inquire. Thank you for your attention, care, and support. We can’t do this without you!
Please send donations of any amount to:
Musical Soulmates PO Box 145
Davenport, CA 95017
Venmo: @MusicalSoulmates
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