Love in Bloom is a performance featuring dance, music, visual art and poetry. It explores the breadth, depth and power of love using artistic expressions to convey love as the supreme emotion, a healing power and the most valuable gift.
Saturday, June 27, 2026
7:30 pm (doors open at 7:00pm) Admission is free for all ages
Featuring
ANTOINETTE MONTAGUE
and
TC THE 3RD
Where
Brighton Heights Reformed Church
320 Saint Marks Place, Staten Island, NY 10301
Come and share the joy of Love in Bloom, an original musical extravaganza presented by Universal Temple of the Arts (UTA) on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. (doors open at 7:00 p.m.) at the Brighton Heights Reformed Church located at 320 Saint Marks Place, Staten Island, NY 10301.
Love in Bloom explores the breadth, depth, and power of love through various artistic expressions. This event brings together dance, music, visual art, and poetry to convey love as the supreme emotion, a healing force, and the most precious gift. In this deeply polarized world, Love in Bloom resonates with compassion, offering a tactile embrace, and timeless performances by headliners ANTOINETTE MONTAGUE and TC THE 3RD. The cast of Love in Bloom includes superb musicians, vocalists, actors, and dancers. Under the musical direction of Dr. Darrell Smith, Love in Bloom is a community theater production that enriches mind, body and soul and attracts an annual loyal audience.
Meet the Headliners & Musical Director
Jazz Woman to the Rescue! A daughter of Newark, the youngest of seven in a musical household, and longtime activist of jazz-imbued New Jersey-New York-Connecticut, Antoinette Montague is a force to be reckoned with. A vocalist with a penchant for turning a tune in any genre into jazz or blues, this Jazz Hero is found where the music meets civil and human rights.
She is a founder and CEO of the non-profit Jazz Woman to the Rescue, which encourages the donation of instruments to young people. She serves on the board of directors of The Duke Ellington Center for the Arts and is advisory board chair for International Women in Jazz, as well as on the community advisory board of WBGO. She now proudly brings her heart, joy and experience to the Newark School of the Arts. Antoinette also teaches and performs for many jazz organizations, such as Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Syncopated Leadership Workshop, Music on the Inside (for the incarcerated, directed by 2022 Jazz Hero Alina Bloomgarden), Jazz Power Initiative, Jazzmobile festivals and their Saturday workshops at Celia Cruz Bronx High School of Music.She has worked with seniors bringing them music, health and a fresh perspective.
As Antoinette’s fellow Jazz Power Initiative teaching artist Richard Miller has written, “She brings the heritage of her music to serve the neediest of our communities. She shows students how to tap into the redemption of the blues and the liberation of jazz, in an organic way that incorporates improvisation, culture, and life lessons. She brings a keen attention to her students and has always been able to elicit the most vulnerable and authentic responses, even from incarcerated students.”
All this and Antoinette hosts a radio show on WHCR (“the Voice of Harlem”), highlighting artists in what she calls “the 3 Es” — Emerging, Established and Elder States-persons of jazz, blues and beyond category.
Jazz Foundation America Executive Director Joe Petrucelli says, “As the name of her alter ego suggests, Antoinette is truly a superhero of the scene. In countless performances with the JFA, she has delighted audiences of all ages, from elementary schoolchildren to seniors, with an approach that edifies and electrifies. She embodies the spirit of jazz and has become not just a messenger for the music but an invaluable mentor, counselor and caregiver for fellow musicians.” The JJA, which enjoyed a rousing set by Jazz Hero Antoinette Montague (with Danny Mixon) at the 2015 JJA Jazz Awards, wholeheartedly agrees.
Vocalist HeadlinerAntoinette Montague
TC THE 3RD is an accomplished jazz vocalist /producer and songwriter whose roots are embedded in Jazz by his parents, jazz organist Ms. Trudy Pitts and drummer Bill “Mr. C” Carney both are well-known and respected in the music industry. Born in Philadelphia he effectively carried the Philly sound of Jazz to New York and was quickly acclaimed by audiences as a “serious jazz vocalist worthy of recognition. TC has performed throughout the United States and Europe, Asia, and The Caribbean and has shared the stage with multiple jazz greats such as Shirley Horn, Gloria Lynne, Art Blakey, Wynton Marsalis, Duane Eubanks, and others. TC is a consummate producer, his concert “THE MEGA JAZZ EXPLOSION” was reviewed by the Philadelphia Tribune as the best in 30 years! And featured the concert was recorded and released as his first project, “TC III LIVE!!! Mega Jazz Explosion” His second was “She Do What She Do.” His project “THE MUSIC,” was recorded in 2021. He records with the best musicians in jazz such as Joey DeFrancesco, Lonnie Plexico, Gary Bartz, and more. TC is the recipient of the 2011 Jazz Vocalist of the Year Award presented by the Philadelphia Cub of Jazz and Performing Arts - and the 2005 Anheuser Bush Jazz Mobile Jazz Vocal Competition Award for Best Male Vocalist. Whether he is scatting, singing the lush lyrics of Cole Porter, the Ellington Songbook, or paying tribute to his favorite jazz greats Cab Calloway, Jon Hendricks, Eddie Jefferson, or Johnny Hartman, his sound is uniquely his own and one that enthralls audiences. TC THE 3RD is indisputably – The Voice of Jazz.
Vocalist Headliner TC THE 3RD
Dr. Darrell Smith
Darrell Smith DMA (jazz percussion, music director, band leader, composer, producer) is a jazz percussionist and composer endorsed by Canopus Drums. He has performed in numerous festivals both nationally and internationally including the Montclair Jazz Festival, the Newport Jazz Festival, the Bern Jazz Festival (Switzerland), the Mumbai NCPA Jazz Festival (India). As a band leader, he has led his original trio (Dal Segno Trio) in local performances at Jazz at Lincoln Center, Smoke Jazz and Supper Club, The Jazz Standard and Gotham. As a composer, Dr. Smith co-wrote an original off-Broadway show entitled “Interludes” that features New Orleans themed music. “Interludes” was featured in the San Diego International Fringe Festival and the New York Fringe Festival. Dr. Smith has also performed in off-Broadway productions of “West Side Story”, “The King and I”, “Pearl”, and “Magdalene”. Since 2018 Dr. Smith has been the music director of the Staten Island Jazz Festival (Universal Temple of the Arts). Dr. Smith is a board member of The Jazz Loft in Stony Brook, Long Island. He has just started his own non-profit organization “3 Degrees” to build an arts center on Staten Island. He is currently the Director of Education for Jazz House Kids under the artistic direction of bassist Chrisitian McBride. Dr. Smith serves on the faculties of the New School University and the College of Staten Island, CUNY.
Musical DirectorMeet the Performers
Brocton Pierce
Brocton Pierce is a native of Baltimore Maryland. Upon relocatng to New York Brocton has worked extensively doing theater Off Broadway and Broadway. Theatre Works USA, and countless other theatrical produtions in New York and abroad. Additionally, Brocton just worked as a supporting actor and Executive Producer in a flim entitled "Perfect Attention" which is a romance thriller. This film has had two private screenings and is now entering the various festivals and thus far is creating quite a buzz.
Brocton is extremely excited to be a part of Love In Bloom where a wide variety of talent is displayed in a very unique and special way. Peace, light and love!
Calvin Booker
Calvin Booker is a music enthusiast, dancer, and DJ. His dance journey began at Happy Home Academy and Meyer Levin Middle School, leading to formal training at Restoration Dance Theater under Marie Brooks and Traci Mann, where he studied diverse styles including African dance, Tap, and Capoeira. Booker’s tap training connects him to legendary dancers and forms the foundation of his style. A graduate of LaGuardia High School, he went on to study at the SUNY Purchase Dance Conservatory.
He is a two-time Amateur Night winner at Apollo Theater, appeared in a national Chili’s commercial, and was recognized in Dance Magazine’s ‘Top 25 To Watch’. His work is preserved in the NYC Performing Arts Library and Jacob’s Pillow archives. With Creative Outlet: Dance Theater of Brooklyn, he performed across the U.S. and internationally and has taught students at various schools abroad in Italy and Russia.
Booker created the tap role in Broadway’s Tony Award-winning FELA! and has worked with notable musicians including Antoinette Montague, Bobby Sanabria, Winard Harper, Stanley Banks, Lafayette Harris, Bertha Hope, Doug E. Fresh, Grandmaster Caz, and Bilal. As DJ 'C Boogie’ featured on internet radio stations and at clubs like Cielo and Chelsea Music Hall, and has opened for renowned DJs such as Rich Medina and Kevin Hedge, and performed at venues in Italy and Russia.
Cortney Taylor Key
Miss Key (Cortney Taylor Key) is a Charlotte, NC native, professional dancer, and dance educator with a BFA in Contemporary Dance from UNC School of the Arts and a 2024 Master’s in Dance Education, specializing in Cultural Congruency in Ballet. She began teaching in 2004 at BB Dance Productions and has since taught at Dance Theatre of Harlem and The Ailey School, where she currently teaches ballet, pointe, and Level 6. A former trainee at DTH under Robert Garland, Miss Key has apprenticed with the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company, Francesca Harper Project, and Brooklyn Ballet, and has guest performed with South Carolina Ballet, Oakland Ballet, and Collage Dance Collective. She continues to perform and coach privately, and is honored to work with the next generation of dancers this summer.
Charles Thomas
Professor Charles Thomas; the first male lead actor in the original LOVE IN BLOOM, costarring with Sheila Rohan; is actor, musician, dancer, teacher and costume designer. He won the coveted Audelco Award for costumes inJULIUS CAESAR SET IN AFRICA, accolades for Ishmael Reeds' GETHSEMANE PARK in the New York Times with co-designer Barbara Register, and much reviewed play LIFE DURING WARTIME at the historical Nuyorican Poets Café, Rome Neal, director. He starred as Lazarus in GETHSEMANE PARK; Job in musical SAY YES; and Yarba in Gertrude Jeanette's LIGHT IN THE CELLAR, produced by Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee. He debuted at Town Hall and City Center with The Afro-American Folkloric Troupe during the beginning of the Black Arts Movement. He loves community and meaningful Art.
Ghislaine van den Heuvel
Ghislaine van den Heuvel is a professional dancer and certified Graham technique teacher from the Netherlands, now based in New York City. She holds a B.A. in Contemporary Dance from Fontys School of Fine and Performing Arts and earned her teaching certification from the Martha Graham School, where she was honored with the Armgard Von Bardeleben Award for Excellence in Graham Studies.Ghislaine performed leading roles with Graham 2 company for three seasons and contributes to preserving the Graham legacy through official Dance Spotlight technique videos. She teaches regularly at the Martha Graham School and leads workshops in the U.S. and Europe. Her recent performance credits include collaborations with RIOULT Dance NY, Tabula Rasa Dance Theatre, Cecilia Whalen Dance, and Jesse Obremski.
Gregory Taylor
Born and raised in New York, Gregory Taylor is an accomplished actor and director. Starting his career with the Unity Cultural Workshop in Staten Island, Gregory played leading roles in such productions as "The River Niger", "A Raisin In The Sun", "Every Night When The Sun Goes Down", "A Soldier's Play" and "Godspell". He has also played leading roles in national tours of "Spell # 7", "A Soldier's Play" and "Purlie".
Janée Murray-Wegman
Janée Murray-Wegman (she/her) is a graduate of Montclair State University, where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and a Minor in Biology. She had the privilege of studying works by Earl Mosley, Christian Von Howard, Tiffany Rae Fisher, Stefanie Batten Bland, Jeremy McQueen, and many more. Janée is a proud recipient of The City Rebuild New York’s Guaranteed Income for Artists program and The Samuel H. Scripps Scholarship Fund. In addition to dancing, she is passionate about educating others on the increasing accessibility to the arts, particularly in lower-income communities, and learning about science. Janée currently serves as the Educational Outreach Assistant at Brooklyn Ballet and the Education Assistant at Brooklyn Academy of Music, while actively participating in the City College Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Med Program.
Julie Colotroc
Julie Colotroc is a versatile professional dancer and singer with extensive international credits. Most recently, she performed in the Ailey Student Performance Group (2024–2026), where she held a lead role in Night Creature. From 2021 to 2023, she performed in the Paris production of “The Lion King” on Broadway as a Dancer Ensemble member, soloist, and singer. Her professional background also includes work with the Béjart Ballet Lausanne, where she performed in Dixit (2019–2020) and took on the lead role in House of the Rising Sun. Between 2018 and 2021, she toured internationally across Switzerland, France, and Thailand with Rudra Bejart Lausanne. Julie completed her professional training at The Ailey School in New York (2023–2026) as a full scholarship student and recipient of the Joan Weil Scholarship Award (2025–2026). She has further refined her craft through intensives with Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Ronald K. Brown’s EVIDENCE, and the Princess Grace Dance Academy. She has performed works by renowned choreographers, including Alvin Ailey, Ronald K. Brown, Christopher Huggins, and Darrell Moultrie.
Maya Da Poet
A Staten Island born and raised multi-hyphenated performing artist. You may have seen her perform at the historical St. George Theater, host during NY Fashion week, or wow the crowd at her popular monthly show That’s Right Open Mic which has partnered with Lincoln Center, Nuyorican Poetry Café and The Ghetto Film School. Stay tuned for what comes next for this undeniable talent.
Micah Bullard
Micah Bullard, from Houston, Texas, earned his BFA in Ballet Performance from University of Oklahoma, where he performed Prince Siegfried in Swan Lake and works by Merce Cunningham, Alejandro Cerrudo, Trey McIntyre, Amy Hall Garner and Nilas Martins.
Micah is currently in his sixth season with Dance Theatre of Harlem, where he has danced works by George Balanchine, Geoffrey Holder, William Forsythe, Nacho Duato, Helen Pickett, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Robert Garland, Stanton Welch, Claudia Schreier, and Jodie Gates.
He has film credits for his work as a dancer and choreographer in Full Out 2: You Got This! and on the Amazon Prime TV series Etoile. He has modeled for Harper's Bazaar magazine and for Chanel.
Sherlyn Mendez
Sherlyn Mendez a 19-year-old college sophomore attending College of Staten Island (CSI), majoring in dance. She has been a passionate dancer since she was young but got to actually dance when she attended high school at Curtis High School. Sherlyn wants to get out more in the dance world and loves to try new experiences. Sherlyn hopes to become a Physical Therapist and hopes to also be involved with dance therapy.
Vernon “Dyverse” Wooten
Poet/emcee, Vernon "Dyverse" Wooten or Dyverse the 1st was born and raised in the Bronx New York and came to Staten Island in a group home at the age of 14. Dyverse was always a writer and poet as a student but began to take it serious as a hip hop fan and emcee at the age of 17. With a bevy of projects to his credit he's been an artist, an actor, a writer and producer. With films like the award-winning Hip Hop Hope and 2007's Blackout, Dyverse has gone from hip hop artist and MC to actor, producer and music supervisor. He's done projects domestically as well as overseas. He's worked with producers like Easy Mo Bee, Psycho Les of the Beatnuts and the legendary Pete Rock. As the lead MC of the band Aquavibe he helped create a new genre of music known as Mix-Hop. Recognized for his thought provoking insight as well as his unique cadence and lyricism Dyverse continues to be a standout artist with an entrepreneurial mindset the founder of Staten Island's original Hip Hop Shop Thatz Wassup and the CEO of Thatz Wassup Studios as well as one of the founders of The Outfit rap crew.
Meet the Vocalists
Dorian Lake
Dorian Lake - Vocalist, percussionist, composer and arranger - has broad experience in many styles, forms and genres of music. His compositions range from popular songs for jazz and rock bands to works for concert band, choir and solo voice. He has performed in major operatic works (such as Figaro in Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro and Uberto in Pergolesi's La Serva Padrona), in musicals (including two productions of Hair, both playing as Hud) and on the concert stage (such as solos in both the Brahms' and Durufle Requiems), among many other performances. His wide range of interests and abilities have led to performances in divergent venues, from Carnegie Hall, the New Jersey Performing Arts Center and St. Patrick's Cathedral to B.B. King's, The Bitter End and the former CBGB's, as well as in tours all over the East Coast, Germany, Austria, Spain and Costa Rica.
Dylan Pramuk
Versatile vocalist, arranger, lyricist, and educator Dylan Pramuk, lauded by the New York Times for his "killer scat singing," has garnered international acclaim as the baritone of the Royal Bopsters. The group, whose recordings have received 4+ stars from DownBeat and Jazzwise, was honored as the #1 Vocal Group in JazzTimes’ 2020 Expanded Critics’ Poll.
Dylan has contributed his voice to numerous collaborations and recordings. He is the bass voice for the jazz a cappella quintet West Side 5, the three-time National Finalist (2nd place, 2024) and winner of Best Original Song (lyrics, Pramuk, 2024) at the Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival. In 2024, West Side 5 recorded its forthcoming second album.
Dylan holds a Master of Music degree from the City College of New York. He teaches at Bard College, Montclair State University, and Jazz House Kids, and has taught at New York University, The New School, and the City College of New York.
Genevieve Steinmetz
Genevieve Steinmetz is an all around vocalist, specializing in classical, jazz, theater & contemporary styles, who exudes passion in every performance. At fourteen years old, she began her training at Talent Unlimited High School for the Performing Arts and has continued here at The College of Staten Island. Genevieve hopes to continue her training by studying Vocal Performance for her Masters Degree after graduating from CSI. Genevieve’s spirit and love for music carries her to continue to share the love of music through her solo & ensemble performances.
Irene Staton
Music has always been a part of my life. I began singing as early as 2 or 3 years old. When I was 8 years old I joined the Junior Choir of Saint Martin Episcopal Church. I began piano lessons at the age of nine. While a student at Cooper Junior High School I was in the jazz band and school orchestra. I played the clarinet. In secondary school (George School in Newtown, PA) I was in the chorus and performed in two Gilbert and Sullivan productions, HMS Pinafore and Mikado. I also sang a solo in the holiday performance of Handel’s Messiah.
When I got married and moved to Staten Island in 1974 I was introduced to Universal Temple of the Arts. I have been a member ever since. As a member of UTA I have been the coordinator and teacher for the piano program. I have coordinated and led the Jazz for Teens program. I introduced the Shakespeare program to UTA and taught Shakespeare to elementary, intermediate and high school students. I was on the planning committee of the UTA Staten Island Jazz Festival for many years.
As a member of UTA I was afforded the opportunity to do what I enjoy most. I sang whenever given the chance. I have participated in the production of Love in Bloom. The first time was in the 80’s performance at Curtis High School, and every year since it has become an annual event. I have also been a part of the chorus for the UTA Staten Island Jazz Festival almost every year.
Jeannine Otis
Performer, writer, educator, recording artist, and Music Director she has curated programs all over the world including England, Japan, Finland, Germany, and Austria as well as Lincoln Center, numerous educational institutions with Safari East, in partnership with Vishnu Wood In 2019 WHO AM I music by Mary Carol Warwick based on the book THE GATHERING by Jeannine featuring Anthony Turner, was presented in 2019 at the National Portrait Gallery / Smithsonian. She is a graduate of Emerson College, MA, and a Presser Music Scholar at Wellesley College, BA, and the MD at the historic Saint Marks Church in the Bowery.
Joy Allison Martinez
Joy Allison Martinez, a multi-talented artist performing for over forty years, is known for her abilities in music and lyric composition, electric bass, piano, dance and singing. A resident of Brighton Heights, Staten Island, Joy studied Ballet, Tap and Jazz under the tutelage of Staten Island’s own Christine Leonardi of Great Expectations for over 10 years. Joy attended the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music and Arts and the Performing Arts where she obtained a diploma in Vocal Studies. She then went on to Philadelphia to study in the University of the Arts’ Baccalaureate Program where she majored in Jazz Dance and studied music composition and film production as a minor. Joy has performed two consecutive years at Staten Island’s Smooth Sounds of Jazz by the Sea, and with the Universal Temple of the Arts for approximately five years, singing in both Love in Bloom and the Staten Island Jazz Festival. Joy has two beautiful daughters who are also artists and she comes from a lineage of musicians and performing artists on both sides of her family. When Joy is not crooning, or dancing to her own master dance beats, she’s counseling New York State attorneys as an expert in Civil Law Procedure and in her own paralegal firm, Counselors Asset LLC, where she works as a Senior Civil Litigation Paralegal and serves as a Notary Public.
Laurent Meyers
Laurent is an accomplished chorister having sung with many choirs including projects with Prof. Rodger Wesby, The Bethel Community Choir of Staten Island, and Festival Choir for the Episcopal Diocese of New York City at St John the Divine.
Laurent has been a participant in LOVE IN BLOOM from the very beginning and is dedicated to being active with the Universal Temple of the Arts. All of this activity is in addition to his role as an administrator
For Social Outreach programming for the New York City.
Meet the Musicians
Eddie Jackson
A seasoned vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, specializing in lead and backup vocals, bongos, congas, and trap set. With over twenty years of touring, recording, and live performance, Eddie has shared the stage with blues icons Honey Boy Edwards and Joe Louis Walker. He currently performs in “Ed Jackson’s Timeout” (a mix of Soul, Jazz and Blues), the “Wonderband” (a mix of different genres of Rock) and performs regularly at open mics, backyard concerts and major events. His outstanding work as a performer and collaborator has earned him induction into the New York Blues Hall of Fame. Eddie is also a United States Air Force Veteran and retired Wall Street professional.
Shawn Rhoades
New York City-based trombonist, educator, and performer specializing in jazz, funk, and salsa music. A graduate of SUNY Purchase, where he earned a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies, and Manhattan School of Music, where he received his Master of Music in Jazz Performance, Rhoades has established himself as both a versatile musician and dedicated educator within the New York music community. As a performer, he has appeared at renowned venues including Dizzy’s Club, Birdland, Blue Note Jazz Club, Carnegie Hall, and Lincoln Center. He is also a full-time member of the Staten Island-based jazz-funk fusion ensemble “The Jazztronauts.”
In addition to his performance career, Rhoades serves as a full-time music teacher with NYC Public Schools and as Assistant Director of the NYC All-City High School Marching Band. He has studied with acclaimed trombonists Luis Bonilla, John Fedchock, and John Yao, among many respected artists in today’s jazz scene.
Gardy Louis
A veteran bassist with over 30 years of professional experience anchoring the low end. A native of Staten Island, New York, he is widely recognized for his exceptional feel and a deeply supportive playing style focused on locking in the pocket and elevating the entire band. His rare, open-ended versatility spans a wide range of musical styles—including Jazz, R&B, Soul, Latin, Country, and Rock—allowing him to adapt seamlessly to virtually any musical setting. Alongside his regular freelance and session work, Gardy is a longtime member of the NYC-based band 13th Alibi and currently serves as the resident bassist for both the Lisa Scherma Band and Ed Jackson's Time Out, remaining a trusted, selfless foundation across the Staten Island music scene.
John Lynch
Guitarist John Lynch was born and raised in Staten Island New York and has been playing professionally for over 25 years. His versatility spans multiple genres having played everything from Jazz, Hip Hop, R&B and Rock music. He’s been the co-leader of the New York City based soul jazz organ trio “DLG 3” for the past ten years.
Anthony Fazio
Trumpeter, composer, educator, and Staten Island native, Anthony Fazio, is a two time Rutgers University graduate with a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Jazz Performance. There, he studied under the tutelage of Joe Magnarelli, Joe Mosello, Conrad Herwig, and Ralph Bowen. Anthony currently plays lead trumpet for the Grammy Award-winning Charles Mingus Big Band, where he has performed regularly in New York, toured internationally, and recorded on the Grammy nominated album “The Centennial Sessions”. He also performs with NBC’s Saturday Night Live house band, Roy Hargrove Big Band and previously for the Captain Black Big Band, Cab Calloway Big Band, and subbed on the Broadway show "Prince of Broadway.” He has performed internationally at venues such as the North Sea, Vittoria, Umbria, and the Alhambra jazz festivals, as well as The Kennedy Center Jazz Club in Washington, D.C. He performs regularly at NYC jazz clubs such as DROM, The Django, Blue Note, Birdland, The Jazz Gallery, Jazz Standard and Smoke Jazz Club. In addition to his performance career, Anthony is a dedicated educator. His desire and passion to spread his knowledge of trumpet playing inspired him to write his first book, Get A Grip- A Mental and Physical Approach to Playing Trumpet. Alongside his involvement with Rutgers University, Anthony currently teaches adjunct at both the College of Staten Island and Teachers College, Columbia University. He also owns Victory Music Studio, a staple for musical instruction within the Staten Island community for over 30 years.
Sylvester Scott
Sylvester Scott is a multi-instrumentalist who is versed in a wide array of musical genres. Saxophonist Sylvester first began his music studies at Curtis High School on Staten Island, where his first instrument was the clarinet. He has performed at the Cool Jazz Festival; The JVC Jazz Festival; the Cactus Festival in Belgium; Nubian Festival in Egypt; The Tanjazz Festival in Morocco, The Summer Solstice Music Festival in New York and many others. Sylvester has performed and toured with the hip hop group The Force MD’s as well as having recording with Hip Hop Moguls such as Damon Dash and was the featured soloist on Quintin Harris’ house music hit “Haunted”. He was a featured player in the James Brown Tribute World Tour, organized and lead by Bootsy Collins. Sylvester was featured on the CD Thoughts On God by the Eric Person Big Band in which he received a favorable mention in Downbeat Magazine. He is the soloist on a recording for Fred Schneider of the B52's and can be heard on numerous others. Sly has also composed and arranged various songs for the Circular Time Band of which he has toured with extensively.
Terence Dove
A native and current resident of Long Island, New York, Terence Dove is a pianist and musician who is not only respected by the local Christian community, but who is also known both nationally and internationally.
Now besides working as a pianist for several churches and choirs in the New York area, Mr. Dove involves himself musically with projects that come his way. He is proud to have been a representative for the Roland Corporation, and to have met its founder, Mr. Itukaro Kakehashi. He is collaborating on several recording projects with various artists and is planning his solo album. “The way to keep focused musically,” he says, “is to prayerfully approach each piece of music one note at a time – one day at a time – one emotion at a time. If one can’t do that, one cannot shape his musical world properly – it remains in chaos. If a musician can make sense of his world, the music never stops flowing.”
Love in Bloom invites us to embrace the all-encompassing spirit of love and serves as a reminder to slow down, care for ourselves, and extend kindness to one another. So go ahead, RSVP to celebrate love – you’ll be glad you did!
– Virginia Allen, Love in Bloom enthusiast
The mission of UTA is to “quicken the creative spirit in the individual and community and foster brotherly love.” Love was the guiding principle of the late Sajda Musawwir Ladner, who was one of the founders of Universal Temple of the Arts and served as its Executive and Artistic Director until August 2021. Mrs. Ladner conceived the idea of Love in Bloom in the late 1970s with input from many creative minds, including poet, Lasana Sekou, and jazz vocalist, Betty Shirley, whose original song Co Ki Ka serves as a musical focal point in the production.
Remember to RSVP at here for a FREE evening of musical theater entertainment. The production is family-friendly and for all ages, young and old!
UTA’s Love in Bloom program is supported in part by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in Partnership with the City Council. UTA would like to extend a special thank you to former City Council Speaker Adrienne E. Adams, Council Member Kamillah M. Hanks, and Council Member David M. Carr for their support.
Universal Temple of the Arts is a proud Coalition of Theaters of Color Funded Organization.