Local Folk Opera Debuts at Goodwood Museum: Voices: A Folk Opera Celebrates Late Artist Kathryn Belle Long
On June 18, the Goodwood Museum and Gardens in Tallahassee will host a listening party for the newly pressed vinyl edition of "Voices: A Folk Opera," a three‑disc, nearly two‑hour work that was completed by the late Kathryn Belle Long and her collaborators after her death in May 2023. The event, open to the public from 6 p.m., will feature a full performance of the opera, followed by hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. Tickets are priced at $25 and can be purchased through Eventbrite.
Kathryn Belle Long was a Tallahassee‑born singer, songwriter, guitarist, and performer who returned to her hometown in 2009 after studying at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City and performing for Disney World. By day she taught performing arts at Swift Creek Middle School, and by night she wrote and performed folk music with her group, Belle and the Band. Long’s work earned her a Suncoast Emmy Award in 2016 for the theme song "Tallahassee" and a win in the 2018 Will McLean Best New Florida Song Contest for the same piece.
During the COVID‑19 pandemic, Long began work on a large‑scale musical project that she described as a "cinematic" folk opera. The piece, titled "Voices: A Folk Opera," was conceived by Long and written in collaboration with her partner Mickey Abraham, a mandolin player and Florida State University graduate. The opera features nine soloists, a full chorus, and a 10‑piece ensemble that includes brass, strings, keyboard, and organ. The libretto traces Long’s family history and her own life, weaving themes of joy and sorrow into a Broadway‑style narrative.
Abraham and Long spent years arranging the songs, developing the cast, and recording the music. The final production involved 38 distinct tracks recorded with new microphones and extensive foley work to capture background sounds such as a baby crying, car engines, and toy squeaks. Producer Kris Kolp, a harmonica player and engineer at Log Cabin Studio, oversaw the mixing and mastering. Kolp has stated that the team worked intensively to finish the album after Long’s diagnosis of an inoperable astrocytoma, which she received following a series of seizures.
The Goodwood Museum, located at 1600 Miccosukee Road, is a historic venue that has hosted a variety of cultural events. The listening party will allow attendees to hear the complete opera for the first time, with the vinyl pressing providing a high‑fidelity experience that honors Long’s artistic vision.
"Voices: A Folk Opera" represents a significant contribution to Tallahassee’s music community. Long’s collaborators—musicians such as Avis Berry, Chris Skyne, Kelly Goddard, Brian Durham, Joe Goldberg, Mike Gregg, Randy Barnhill, and Kalya Williams—played key roles in bringing the project to fruition. The opera’s completion and public debut serve as a tribute to Long’s legacy and a testament to the collaborative spirit that sustained the work.
The event is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. on June 18, with a reception preceding the performance. Tickets are available through the Eventbrite link "Voices a Folk Opera Listening Party." The Goodwood Museum and Gardens will provide the venue and hospitality for the evening.
In summary, the listening party at Goodwood Museum marks the first public presentation of Kathryn Belle Long’s completed folk opera. The event brings together the community that supported Long’s career and offers a chance to experience her final artistic statement.
