The 2024 inductees for the North Carolina Music Hall Of Fame have been unveiled.

Among the honored individuals is Mary Cardwell Dawson, a native of North Carolina. Dawson is renowned for establishing the National Negro Opera Company in 1941. Despite its brief existence until her passing in 1962, the company left an indelible mark by staging over 110 operas, shattering racial barriers in the realm of classical music. Notable venues where the National Negro Opera Company performed include the Civic Opera House in Chicago, Griffith Stadium in Washington, and Madison Square Garden. Of significant note, the company made history as the first Black opera troupe to grace the stage of the Metropolitan Opera.

Dawson's journey began with studies in voice and piano at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, where she stood as the sole Black individual in the graduating class of 1925. Continuing her musical pursuits, she furthered her education in Chicago and New York City, eventually establishing a music studio in Pennsylvania. There, she played a pivotal role in nurturing the talents of numerous jazz luminaries. Additionally, Dawson assumed leadership in the National Association of Negro Musicians, garnering admiration from luminaries such as First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.

In recognition of her tireless advocacy for Black artists and her crusade against systemic racial injustices, Dawson earned accolades including a posthumous Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023, following the staging of "The Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson" by the Washington National Opera.

The North Carolina Music Hall Of Fame will celebrate its 2024 Induction Ceremony on October 17th.