(opera music) - When we think of the arts, in particular the fine arts, we envision the opera.

(opera music) And of course the room vibrating sounds of the symphony.

(instrumental music) And now, both of these well-known artistic organizations in Charlotte are beginning new seasons with new leaders at the helm.

For the opera, one who knows the Queen City well.

- Dr. Shante Williams, started right here in Charlotte, North Carolina.

I am home again.

But you know, really all of this started with, you know, this community growing up in what was Earl Village.

- [Bea] The little girl who grew up in the inner city went on to HBCU Winston-Salem State with the intention of going into medicine, then on to Ohio State where she found a love for opera.

With several degrees, she branched out into banking and it ultimately led to her becoming an entrepreneur.

- But the turn from board member and philanthropist really into operator and leader happened actually when I got the opportunity presented to me to sponsor an opera.

- [Bea] The opera was "The Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson."

It's the story of the first black woman to establish the National Negro Opera Company.

Opera Carolina was established back in 1948, but African Americans would not have been allowed to attend and enjoy the opera then.

Yet in its 75th year, it is now led by an African American woman.

For Williams, the key is to change public perceptions about the opera.

- I'm going to rid everybody from saying opera's not for us, and I don't care who the us is, whether that's people of color, whether that's women, whether that's, you know, people of a specific socioeconomic status.

I named my inaugural year here "Opera per Tutti," which means opera for all in Italian.

- [Bea] William says she's received overwhelming support and she sees changes that will benefit the arts community in Charlotte and worldwide.

- I think in the next few years we will continue to see this evolution and revolution of women leaders that have fought very hard for their place in the arts, well deserved.

And probably it's taken way too long, but they're there and they will continue to assume the mantle.

- [Bea] Meanwhile, Charlotte Symphony may have found its muse in newly named musical conductor Kwame Ryan.

- Started conducting the orchestra and immediately thought, "That's a beautiful sound."

And then I realized that we had a very strong musical connection.

- [Bea] By the age of six, the boy from Trinidad knew what he wanted to do after seeing the movie "Star Wars" and hearing the musical score by John Williams.

(intense music) The following year, he made a life-changing declaration during a presentation of "Porgy and Bess."

- My mom tells me that I leaned over to her during that concert and said, "Mom, I want to do what the guy in the middle's doing."

So that was the beginning of the actual orchestral passion and fascination.

- [Bea] He began music school in Trinidad, piano, voice, violin and steel drums.

And at the age of 14, he was sent to England to boarding school and to hone his craft.

- The very first orchestra that I conducted was the one that I pieced together at the boarding school that I ended up at, at the age of 14.

- [Bea] At 16, he became a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain and earned the right to conduct during rehearsals.

His first two musical directorships were in Germany and France.

Here in Charlotte, the symphony organization was looking for a good fit.

- Because he has a deeply curious mind.

I think he's always looking for ways to connect people and ideas together and basically create experiences that we can share as a community.

- [Bea] For Kwame Ryan, Charlotte offered a lot of what he was looking for in an artistic home.

- Its education programs, its commitment to diversity and equity and inclusion.

I feel like I could have written the mission statement of the CSO.

- [Bea] For the little girl who came home, and continues to make her mark in the world, her next move is simple.

- In order for people to feel welcome, you have to invite them in, give them an invitation.

And I was like, I think for me this year is about giving people the invitation inside the doors.

- [Bea] It's a new season for the arts in the Queen City and it appears with orchestral conductor Kwame Ryan and Charlotte's own Dr. Shante Williams, who is a venture capitalist and the general director of the opera, it would appear that this city is in for a great artistic run on both stages.

For "Carolina Impact," I'm Bea Thompson.

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