Melrose High Hosting Artist, Activist Zakiyyah For Concert, Talk

MELROSE, MA — The Opening Doors Project and the Melrose Education Foundation have announced they are hosting a concert and conversation with artist and activist Zakiyyah this week.

The event is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Learning Commons at Melrose High School, located at 360 Lynn Fells Pkwy. Admission is free and seats can be reserved online.

Zakiyyah Sutton is a rapper and classically trained vocalist who has combined musical genres into a sound she calls "Hip-Hopera."

According to organizers, Zakiyyah also utilizes music and visual media to explore themes that centralize marginalized communities.

Zakiyyah currently serves as a trustee for the Free for All Concert Fund, an organization that helps bring classical music to new audiences. Plus, she teaches voice through Harvard's Holden Voice Program and the Hamilton Garrett Music and Arts Academy.

A Wellesley College graduate, Zakiyyah previously worked in politics for Boston City Councilor Tito Jackson and for Suffolk County Sheriff Steven Tompkins.

The Opening Doors Project has a mission of amplifying voices of color and advancing conversations about race through the arts.

In addition to performing Wednesday night, Zakiyyah is scheduled to present an in-school version of her arts-activism workshop to Melrose teens. The workshop is titled "Creative Revolution."