Featured ‘Black Heritage Day-An Afro Classical Experience Festival’ Performers – Greensboro Opera
2023-06-10
Music was an important part of life for Dr. Charlotte Hawkins Brown. To honor her birthday, we’re hosting Black Heritage Day! Join us to listen to local musicians and a very special performance by Chrystal E. Williams and Felipe Hostins, enjoy food from local Black owned food trucks, and take a stroll through our Black owned vendor market. There will be activity stations for kids and art!

Featured in An Evening with Chrystal E.
2023-10-13
The Chrystal E. Williams Scholarship was founded in 2004 because it was realized that there was a need to help students wishing to pursue a career in the performing arts. It is my hope and dream that in the future young performers will not have to concern themselves with funding for school but will only have to concern themselves with perfecting their talent and sharing God’s gift with the rest of the world. It is also my hope that more young performers from the area will come to know that there are people who support them and their budding careers.
-Chrystal E. Williams-
For more information or to donate, email aneveningwithchrystale@gmail.com.

Featured Gala Performer – American Composers Orchestra
2023-10-25
ACO invites you to kick off the 2023-24 season with us at our 2023 Gala & Creative Catalyst Awards, a joyful celebration of the music and culture of the Americas honoring three visionary leaders – Paquito D’Rivera, Dr. Indira Etwaroo, and Edward Yim – who exemplify our core values of artistry, creativity, community, and equity.Meet rising stars of tomorrow over a caipirinha at the bar. Discover new sounds with NYC’s most culturally curious. Make lifelong connections through the one-of-a-kind communal dining experience that is Brazilian churrasco. And, because it’s a party after all, bring out your most creative festive attire!
Save the date and join us for a night featuring music by composer & saxophonist Paquito D’Rivera, soprano Chrystal E. Williams, forró musician Felipe Hostins, composer Raquel Acevedo Klein, and sound artist Chris Kallmyer, among others, and a fabulous dinner. Founded in Porto Alegre, Brazil, Fogo de Chão’s interactive tableside service features fire roasted meats, fish, and vegan/vegetarian entrees alongside Fogo’s signature Market Table spread inspired by the farms of Southern Brazil where family and friends gather to share the finest and freshest from their harvests.We look forward to welcoming you for an evening of enthralling performances, sparkling company, and delicious food, while supporting the expansion of ACO’s national EarShot composer advancement programs, orchestral performances, and educational initiatives.

New Work for Mezzo-Soprano and Accordion – (J. Glover/K. Rourke) – American Composers Orchestra – Carnegie Hall (debut)
2024-03-12 | 230312_ACO-96
From January through May 2024, as the centerpiece of the 2023–2024 season, Carnegie Hall will present Fall of the Weimar Republic: Dancing on the Precipice, an ambitious citywide festival exploring one of the most complex and consequential chapters in modern human history: Germany’s Weimar Republic of 1919–1933. Through dozens of musical performances at Carnegie Hall and multidisciplinary offerings at leading cultural and academic institutions across New York City and beyond, the festival will examine the arts and culture that flourished as artists sought bold and innovative avenues for creative expression in this increasingly traumatic period in history.

In Recital – Allegro Music Consultants
2024-04-14, 2024-09-11
Husband and Wife Duo, Forrópera, share their genre bending musical ingenuity and joy with surrounding communities.

In Residence – Allegro Music Consultants
2024-05-21
Husband and Wife Duo, Forrópera, bring world class performances to classrooms and beyond; helping young and old alike use music as a way of expression and growth. Their unique educational programs incorporate arias, songs, as well as Brazilian folk rhythms.

Featured in Felipe Hostins Band – Music Haven (Schenectady, NY)
2024-08-18
Felipe Hostins Trio

Young Brazilian accordionist Hostins plays forró, a hip-swiveling dance music from northeastern Brazil, traditionally played by trios of accordion, drum and triangle. Joining Hostins this evening will be Davi Vieira on percussion (Zabumba and timbau) and vocals and Chrystal E. Williams on triangle and vocals.

In Concert - Opera Delaware
2024-08-29 | 230312_ACO-81
Opera Delaware is thrilled to present Forrópera, a Brazilian folk music and opera duo co-created by American vocalist/composer Chrystal E. Williams and Brazilian accordionist/composer Felipe Hostins as a way to foster unity, peace, and understanding through music. Combining elements of Brazilian folk music and classical opera, the husband/wife duo began their musical collaboration in 2016.
They started out working with inner city schools, helping students use music as a way of expression and growth. Working with students of different backgrounds and prior levels of musical training, Forrópera residencies joyfully empower participants through co-created music, drama, and dance. A combination of forró (meaning “for all”) and opera (meaning “work”), Forrópera’s mission is to create and share works of art that are truly for all.

Featured Artists – Accordions Around the World
2024-09-23
15 different artists join us for each day of Accordions Around the World. Wander Bryant Park NYC and explore their musical stylings, or set up a picnic and enjoy rotating accordion players at each station.

In Recital - Allegro Music Consultants
2025-01-12 14:30 - 15:30 UTC
Views of the Forest Thru the Lens of Music:
Husband and Wife Duo, Forrópera, present a classical program highlighting nature through the lens of music at Jenkins Arboretum & Gardens in Devon, PA.

In Recital - Allegro Music Consultants
2025-01-13 - 2025-01-22

Guest Artist in Arte en las Calles: Fiesta de Verano
2025-08-16 18:00 - 21:00
ARTE EN LAS CALLES
Fiesta de Verano
Featured Artists:
Dendê Macêdo & Band | Chrystal E. Williams & Felipe Hostins (Forrópera)

Esperanza Parking Lot, 8/16/25, 6:00pm
FREE
Celebrate the summer with live music by Dendê Macêdo & Band, and Chrystal E. Williams & Felipe Hostins (Forrópera). Featuring Latin food, merchant fair, dancing, and fun activities for all ages.

Sponsored by AARP and Creative PHL

A Summer Celebration with Forrópera
2025-09-21 16:00 - 17:00 | DSC08216
Chrystal E. Williams and Felipe Hostins share their magnetic husband & wife duo, Forrópera, in an afternoon of song. The dynamic duo beautifully melds classics with original works in a joyous, dance inducing program featuring voice and accordion. Come close out the summer with tunes from across the world. From South America to Europe with stops in between, this hour long program features works by Bizet, Gershwin, beloved Spirituals and original pieces by the artists themselves. Let’s dance-Vamos dançar!

Pay What You Can (Minimum $20 Suggested)

Check out Forrópera:

https://youtube.com/shorts/cH8N7k6p6Vw?si=ABIIPOkZSrPE6aeG

Featured in An Evening with Chrystal E. 2025
2025-10-03 19:00 - 20:00 | logo-80×80
The annual An Evening with Chrystal E. concert helps raise funds for The Chrystal E. Williams Scholarship. The CEW Scholarship came about because there was a need to held students wishing to pursue a career in the performing arts. It is my hope and dream that in the future, young performers will not have to concern themselves with funding for school; instead, focusing on perfecting their talent and sharing God’s gift with the rest of the world. It is also my hope that more young performers from the area will come to know there are people who support them and their budding careers. ~Chrystal E. Williams

Admission is Pay What You Can
Come join in helping raise funds for more future performing artists today! There is a fun evening of reflection through music planned. Some featured works include those by Margaret Bonds, R. Strauss, Fauré, Spirituals, and some originals by the husband/wife duo, Forrópera. The wonderful Oksana Lutsyshyn will be on the piano, and the versatile Felipe Hostins will be on the accordion!
For more information or to donate, email aneveningwithchrystale@gmail.com.

Forrópera at Nightfall 2025
2025-10-16 19:30 - 2025-10-17 22:00
The crowning event of Green-Wood’s fall season, Nightfall sprawls across a broad stretch of the cemetery, with two thousand audience members wandering through the winding, moonlit paths, encountering musicians, dancers, storytellers, circus performers, film projections, and much more.
An epic partnership between Green-Wood, Death of Classical, Rooftop Films, Morbid Anatomy, Bindlestiff Family Cirkus, and more, Nightfall is an unforgettable evening of art, in one of New York City’s most extraordinary locales.

Guest Artist - Presser Foundation 100th Anniversary Celebration
2025-11-21 19:00 - 21:00 | Charles Library, 1900 N. 13th Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19122, United States
“Join The Presser Foundation as we celebrate our 100th Anniversary and the incredible musical community that carries forward Theodore Presser’s legacy.
When: Friday, November 21, 2025 | 7:00-9:00 pm
Where: Charles Library, Temple University
Come as you are and help us honor a century of supporting music in Greater Philadelphia!”

Guest Artist - Counterpoint Concerts: French Affair
2026-03-06 18:30 - 21:30 | L’Enfant Gallery, 1442 Wisconsin Avenue Northwest, Washington, DC, 20007, United States
EVENT DETAILS
Mezzo-soprano Chrystal E. Williams and pianist Natalia Kazaryan present a stirring program of French songs by Berlioz, Viardot, Ravel, and the Boulanger sisters — composers who defied convention, faced adversity, and remained true to their artistic voices. From the fervent lyricism of Berlioz to the vivid textures of Viardot and Ravel, and the emotional depth of Lili and Nadia Boulanger, each piece tells a story of resilience and conviction. The program also features Forrópera (Chrystal E. Williams, voice, and Felipe Hostins, accordion) in a unique delivery of poetry inspired by the lives of the evening’s composers.
Official event art by David Plunkert.

PROGRAM
Hector Berlioz- Les nuits d’été
Maurice Ravel – Chansons Madécasses
Pauline Viardot – Sérénade, Au jardin de mon père, Lamento, Évocation
Lili Boulanger – Un poète disait, Attente, Vous m’avez regardé avec toute votre âme
Nadia Boulanger – Chanson, Soleil couchant, Cantique

In Recital - Allegro Music Consultants
2026-04-25 19:30 - 20:30
Photo Credit: Julia Lehman
Husband and Wife Duo, Forrópera, share their genre bending musical ingenuity and joy with surrounding communities in a recital with Ekaterina Skliar, domra/mandolin.

In Recital - Boston University Tanglewood Institute Jazz Series
2026-07-14 19:00 - 20:00 | West Street Theater, 45 West Street, Lenox, MA, 01240, United States
Forrópera joins the BUTI Jazz Series for a unique evening of musical fun and rhythmic exploration.
The Jazz Series takes place at the West Street Theater on the BU Tanglewood Campus. General Admission is $20 at the door. Both cash and card accepted.

In Recital - Counterpoint Concerts
2026-12-11 18:30 - 21:00 | L’Enfant Gallery, 1442 Wisconsin Avenue Northwest, Washington, DC, 20007, United States
A genre-blending celebration of the Americas weaves Copland and Gershwin with Villa-Lobos, Ernani Braga and traditional spirituals; highlighting shared threads and reinvention across North and South America.
Official event art by David Plunkert.

Samba at the Symphony - Cape Symphony Orchestra
2027-02-27 19:30 - 2027-02-28 18:00 | Barnstable Performing Arts Center, 744 West Main Street, Hyannis, MA, 02601, United States
Samba is just the beginning…. you’re invited to a dazzling celebration of Brazilian culture, music, and dance! This concert brings a beautiful mix of familiar rhythms and delightful surprises to Cape Cod. It’s a celebration of life, spirit, and community, as we gather to enjoy music for the pure joy of it.
Music is the international language that connects us all. Experience it in the Brazilian tradition with your Cape Symphony Orchestra… no airfare required.
