Meet the 2023-24 BTARs
This December, UniSound launches the fourth round of its Black Teaching Artist-in-Residence program (BTAR), an initiative to support the music practice and professional development of Black teaching artists in Greater Pittsburgh. Starting the first week of December and lasting nine months, the residencies have been awarded to Anqwenique Kinsel and Yusef Shelton.
UniSound is an alliance of organizations dedicated to creating a more accessible, sustainable, and equitable youth music ecosystem in Greater Pittsburgh. The artists-in-residence will serve as thought partners with UniSound and its member organizations, and each teaching artist will conclude their residency with a project of their choosing, such as a workshop, a recital, or a lecture.
Each resident will receive a monthly stipend of $1,000, for a total of $9,000 over the course of the program, as well as opportunities for professional mentorship, networking, and up to $2,000 in additional resources toward developing their artistic practice and career. This time around, the BTARs can be invited to do up to 5 workshops and appearances each at local organizations and schools which will pay them $200 per visit. If the venue does not have the resources to pay the BTARs, UniSound has the funds to offer assistance.
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More on the Artists:
Anqwenique Kinsel is an extremely versatile vocalist and educator specializing in opera, classical music, jazz, and soul. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Voice Performance from Indiana University of PA. She has performed and collaborated with Staycee Pearl Dance Project, Chamber Music Pittsburgh, Attack Theater, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, BOOM Concepts, composer Daniel Bernard Romain, Luna Loba Collective/Shey Rivera-Rios, Nicole Mitchell, and many others. Anqwenique has been recognized with many awards and opportunities for her creative work. In 2017 she was named “Best Singer” by the Pittsburgh Magazine readers poll and listed among Who’s Next in Music by The Incline and 40 Under 40 by Pittsburgh Magazine and PUMP. She alongside husband and visual artist DS Kinsel became the first artist in residence at the Westmoreland Museum of American Art in Greensburg, PA as part of a collaboration with BOOM Concepts. She most recently was a recipient of the 2023 Aggie Award by the Bloomfield Garfield Corporation for her community work through the arts and completed the 3rd SCALE Fellowship cohort, a program of the Equity Impact Center for Black women in music. Anqwenique also has a history of working in collaboration across disciplines in visual art, photography, performance art, and immersive theater.
As a long-time educator and teaching artist, Anqwenique serves learners from early childhood to adulthood. In addition to her vocal and performance practice, ANQWENIQUE consults frequently as a teaching artist, program designer, and cultural advisor. She was commissioned by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust in 2018 to create an original story for early childhood audiences in collaboration with composer Doug Levine entitled Jazz Time! Her workshop series Just SING!, singing for wellness and self-care is supported by Duolingo and The Opportunity Fund.
Yusef Shelton Da First, also known as Ys1, emerges as a trailblazing artist from the heart of Pittsburgh, Homewood Pa. Yusef’s music reflects his life experiences in the inner city while blending raw talent and compelling storytelling. Overcoming adversity, Yusef turned pain into purpose, birthing a professional career from shattered beginnings. His journey led to original music, business grants, and performances at prestigious venues throughout Pittsburgh. Yusef’s resilience is encapsulated in his “Da First” merch line, urging supporters to embrace authenticity. Recent releases include three mixtapes and the 2023 album “Ignite,” recorded during a residency at New Hazlett Theater.
