Jay Saint Flono
Jay Saint Flono (he/she/they) is a classical singer, actor, librettist, and author from Brooklyn, New York. Hailed for a "spectacularly beautiful and haunting" soprano voice by Times journalist Julie Scelfo, Jay has worked with artists such as Bill T. Jones in Deep Blue Sea (2021) and visual artist Bethany Collins in America: A Hymnal (2023). Jay has appeared with NYC Opera, the Unsung Collective at Lincoln Center, and in concert as a soloist and recitalist with the Bronx Arts Ensemble, Grace Chorale of Brooklyn, and SugarHill Salon. Operatic and theatrical appearances include Orfeo in La Favola d'Orfeo, Mint in Dark Skin Support Group, and MULTI at The Public Theater and MCC Theater.
As a writer and creator of worlds, Jay is the author of a culinary memoir/speculative short fiction collection titled Black American Magic: A Feast of Food & Folklore, and was a 2019-21 Librettist Fellow with Composers and The Voice (AOP) where they completed the libretto, Spirit in the Vine. Jay's work centers around the power of myth and its intersection with themes of music, language, beauty, death, identity, family, and home. Jay is a member of the arts consortium, Ring Shout.
During Jay’s time in residence, they will continue the development of Spirit in the Vine: A Sankopera.
About Spirit in the Vine: A Sankopera
Spirit in the Vine: A Sankopera takes place in the mythic realm of Zaradús, drawing direct inspiration from the African-American folktale High John and Devil’s Daughter while expanding its lore. The story begins when a wise woman creates a baby of extraordinary magical ability for the childless rulers. Their joy, however, is darkened when the High Queen is suddenly murdered.
In his grief, the High King asks the wise woman to raise his wife from the dead. Instead, she offers him and his people the gift of immortality—on one condition: his child’s life must be given when she comes of age. This child, Cosima of the House of Concaïma, (or "Singing Daughter"), is a twice-blessed being of miraculous power, kept locked in the palace as the years of endless beauty carry on. Cosima, the apple of her father’s eye, is allowed out only once a year to renew the kingdom’s immortality with the gift of her voice.
Yet Cosima is plagued by strange visions that no one can interpret, until the arrival of a powerful Immortal called Prince Cotton alters the course of her fate. As Cosima and Prince Cotton plan their escape, Melalamia—a goddess of the night, once betrayed by the royal family’s ancient ancestor—enters the court, throwing it into chaos.
Armed with ancestral power, Cosima embarks on a journey to free her father, and the kingdom, from the curse of immortality.
Image courtesy of Jay Saint Flono
Collaborators
Image courtesy of James T. Dargan
James T. Dargan
Composer
James T. Dargan (he/him) is a musician and writer from North Carolina. He is a founding member of the arts consortium, Ring Shout, a group of Black classical singers that formed during the height of the Great Pause of 2020 committed to cultivating new experiences in art and pushing beyond the constructed bounds of what it means to be a "classical" artist in the new millennium. James is based in New York City, where he sings while composing, playing the violin, writing, and teaching. James has been a musician since he was a child and has shared his voice and carefully curated programs all over the US and Europe. Career highlights include solo work with The Boston Pops and operatic work with Esperanza Spalding and Wayne Shorter.