Soprano Shares Her Voice and Perspectives with Babson Community

World-renowned opera singer Karen Slack.
Listen

Curtis Johnson ’23 grew up in an arts family. His sisters sing and play musical instruments, and his brother is a visual artist and also sings. Johnson, too, used to perform in a choir and still enjoys improvisational singing.

“I love to immerse myself in many different genres,” he said.

But, as a Babson College student focused on finance and business analytics, he didn’t truly appreciate the connections between the arts and entrepreneurship until hearing world-renowned opera singer Karen Slack perform and discuss the similarities.

Johnson, who moderated a live Q&A session with Slack following her recent performance and discussion for the College, says he has a lot of friends interested in music who are trying to reconcile that with their business interests—and the Entrepreneurial Thought & Action® (ET&A™) they learn at Babson. Slack’s insights opened his eyes.

“For me, it was really interesting to hear how she equated the musician to the entrepreneur,” Johnson said. “It doesn’t matter what you’re doing. There is a need for the business mindset, the ET&A mindset, regardless of what you’re going into. It was her focus on running her passion as a business that really intrigued me.”

Diverse Voices

Slack recently headlined a special College event, presented by President Stephen Spinelli Jr. MBA’92, PhD, and his wife, Carol Spinelli, as part of the College’s celebration of Black History Month.

Slack was introduced by their son, Steve Spinelli, the assistant director of choral programs at Cornell University and the co-founder of ONEcomposer, which celebrates musicians whose contributions have been historically erased. He was instrumental in introducing Slack’s virtuoso voice to Babson, in particular because of her entrepreneurial spirit on and off the stage.

Karen Slack sings
World-renowned opera singer Karen Slack performs one of four songs for the Babson College community.

“Our friend Karen Slack is the total package,” Steve Spinelli said in his introduction. “She sings on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera, but lives in search of new and creative ways to impact our world. She is the consummate leader and still the ideal team player.”

A native of Philadelphia and product of the famed Curtis Institute of Music, Slack has performed in the world’s most famous opera houses and concert halls, and also has appeared on screen in films such as Tyler Perry’s For Colored Girls.


“For me, it was really interesting to hear how she equated the musician to the entrepreneur. … It was her focus on running her passion as a business that really intrigued me.”
Curtis Johnson ’23, on opera singer Karen Slack

During the Q&A, Slack spoke about the racial bias she has endured and the importance of improving diversity in the arts—not only on stage but also behind the scenes in administration, on boards, and in companies. Her experiences and accomplishments have helped her use her voice not only to impress adoring audiences but also impact the industry itself.

“Now, when I’m going into creative spaces, I’m thinking, how can I be the boss? How can I produce?” Slack said. “Now, I’m thinking, how can I get my name from soprano or artist or singer to producer?”

She has done just that, recently releasing the social justice film #SayTheirNames—Women of the Movement, a project she conceived and curated to rise up the voices of Black women.


Watch #SayTheirNames—Women of the Movement on YouTube.


Rave Reviews

Johnson, meanwhile, has produced an impressive resume himself. A Baldwin Richardson Foods Scholar and resident of The Johnson House, the Chicago native is the chief financial officer and future president of Babson’s Black Student Union. He also is a College Advancement Ambassador, a member of the Hearing Board and Peers on Wellness, and the general manager of the Radio Club.

Curtis Johnson speaks at the event
Curtis Johnson ’23 moderates the Q&A with Karen Slack following her performance and discussion.

As an entrepreneurial leader on campus, Johnson knows the importance of including diverse voices in all conversations. Citing a pair of influential books—Poor Charlie’s Almanack: The Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Munger and The Fifth Discipline: The Art & Practice of The Learning Organisation—Johnson elaborated on a perspective that has been top of mind in his preparation for the discussion with Slack.

“It’s so important to gain multiple perspectives in order to approach the same problem from different points of view,” Johnson said. “If you’re able to look from different perspectives, you can see how whatever solution you come up with will affect the problem and groups outside of the problem. Perspectives like Karen’s really exemplify that interdisciplinary mindset, and why it’s so important.”

By the time he was done sharing the virtual stage with a virtuoso, Johnson was drawing rave reviews of his own for his role in moderating the Q&A with Slack. He even received a text while he was speaking during the event—from Nicole Denver of the College Advancement Ambassadors program—to say that he was doing amazing.

“I was just happy to be able to add anything of value to the whole process,” Johnson said. “Everyone that I talked to said that it was a great performance.”

Connection and Compassion

The sublime soprano’s soaring sounds captivated the virtual audience as she performed four songs: “Ride On, Jesus,” arranged by Nathaniel Dett; “Vissi d’arte,” an iconic soprano aria from Tosca by Giacomo Puccini; “Morgen!” composed by Richard Strauss; and “Watch and Pray,” by Undine Smith Moore, considered the “Dean of Black Women Composers.”

“It was beautiful,” Johnson said. “She was trying to draw a direct connection to the listener. And, I could see the authentic compassion in that. … (It’s) the way you feel when you know someone cares. That’s how I felt.”

As he wrapped up the Q&A, Johnson asked Slack for her final words of advice for Babson students, especially those interested in music.

“I think artists need to think more of themselves as a business,” she replied. “And, I also think that business people need to come into our world and embrace us as artists to support that.”

On this Sunday afternoon in February, Johnson and the rest of the Babson community were grateful to hear Slack’s voice and support her art.

Watch the full performance, discussion, and Q&A here:

Posted in Community

More from Community »

Latest Stories

Warren Buffett
Buffett Retires: Babson Professors Highlight Lessons from a Historic Transition Warren Buffett’s retirement is more than a milestone, Babson thought leaders say. It’s also a masterclass in thoughtful succession and cultural continuity.
By
Hillary Chabot
Writer
Hillary Chabot
Hillary Chabot is a writer for Babson Thought & Action and Babson Magazine. An award-winning journalist, she is known for her insightful reporting and dedication to detailed storytelling. With a career spanning over two decades, she has covered a wide range of topics, from presidential campaigns and government policy to neighborhood issues and investigative series. As a reporter for The Boston Herald, Hillary earned a reputation for tenacity and integrity. Her work at Babson College fuels her passions—to learn something new every day and conduct thoughtful, empathic interviews. She’s thrilled to be at Babson College, where students, faculty, staff members and classes provide compelling copy daily.
May 30, 2025

Posted in Community, Insights

Zainabou Thiam ’28 sits at a table selling products to waiting customers
Paying Homage to One’s Ancestors Through Entrepreneurship Zainabou Thiam ’28 was raised in the values of Senegal. With the help of Babson, she’s growing her venture, Sunu Body, an African-inspired skin care and wellness brand.
By
John Crawford
Senior Journalist
John Crawford
A writer for Babson Thought & Action and the Babson Magazine, John Crawford has been telling the College’s entrepreneurial story for more than 15 years. Assignments for Babson have taken him from Rwanda to El Salvador, from the sweet-smelling factory of a Pennsylvania candy maker, to the stately Atlanta headquarters of an NFL owner, to the bustling office of a New York City fashion designer. Beyond his work for Babson, he has written articles and essays for The Philadelphia Inquirer, Notre Dame Magazine, The Good Men Project, and other publications. He can be found on Twitter, @crawfordwriter, where he tweets about climate change.
May 29, 2025

Posted in Entrepreneurial Leadership

The champion tennis players pose for a photo with their trophies alongside their coaches
Repeat Champs: Babson’s Doubles Team Nets Second Tennis National Title Olivia Soffer ’25 and Matia Cristiani ’26 captured their second consecutive NCAA Division III doubles national championship in women’s tennis.
By
May 28, 2025

Posted in Community