ZABRIEL

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“A GULLAH EVENING WITH ZABRIEL” OUT NOW

Zabriel – Singer and Voice of the Gullah Geechee Nation brings the power of storytelling, music, and heritage in A Gullah Evening with Zabriel — a one-man show that brings the rich traditions of the Gullah Geechee people to life. With voice, rhythm, and history intertwined, Zabriel carries the sound of a nation and shares it with the world.

Voice of the Gullah Geechee Nation

A Gullah Evening with Zabriel is a one-man show that blends tradition with performance, offering audiences an unforgettable journey into the heart of Gullah Geechee culture.

UPCOMING

Zabriel Rivers embarks on a remarkable 2025–2026 season that affirms his place as one of the leading voices preserving and reimagining traditional Gullah music today. Known for his “pure tone” and “profound emotional depth,” Rivers brings the heart of the Gullah-Geechee heritage to national and international stages through storytelling, song, and spirit.

This season, Rivers expands his artistic reach with performances that celebrate the roots of Gullah spirituals, work songs, and praise traditions. His programs highlight the deep connection between Gullah music and the broader African diasporic soundscape, blending traditional rhythms, call-and-response, and ancestral memory with new arrangements that honor authenticity while embracing innovation.

A centerpiece of the season is the continued evolution of A Gullah Evening with Zabriel—a powerful cultural experience that intertwines Gullah language, songs, and stories with elements of classical and contemporary music. Presented at major festivals, universities, and performance halls, this production continues to grow in scope and impact, inviting audiences into the living legacy of the Gullah people.

Throughout the 2025–2026 season, Rivers will bring his artistry to venues including Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, and the Perelman Performing Arts Center. As a singer, storyteller, and cultural advocate, he is dedicated to preserving the language, rhythms, and soul of the Gullah-Geechee tradition—bridging generations and inspiring audiences through the enduring power of song and heritage.

SCHEDULE

SCHEDULE

February 11

SC Arts Day
Colombia, SC

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August 21

Alabama State University
Montgomery, AL

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June 5

Arts Connexions
Rochester, NY

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April 25-26

2025 Stone Soup Storytelling Festival
Woodruff, SC

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April 18

Rochester Oratorio Society
Rochester, NY

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May 25

Carnegie Hall
New York, NY

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June 6

Rochester Oratorio Society
Rochester, NY

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February 14

Mary G. Hardin Center for Cultural Arts
Gadsden, AL

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PRESS

  • KEYNOTE SPEAKER

    South Carolina Arts Day 2026

  • PERFORMANCE ANNOUNCEMENT

    A Gullah Evening with Zabriel

  • A GULLAH EVENING WITH ZABRIEL

    PERFORMANCE ANNOUNCEMENT

    A Gullah Evening with Zabriel

  • DISTRICT ADVOCATE

    Zabriel Rivers serves as District Advocate for the Recording Academy: Atlanta Chapter 2025

  • VOTING MEMBER

    Zabriel Rivers is a Voting Member at the Grammy's 2025

  • READ FULL PRESS RELEASE

    PERFORMANCE ANNOUNCEMENT

    Carnegie Hall

  • READ FULL PRESS RELEASE

    PERFORMANCE ANNOUNCEMENT

    Freedom Song: When Gospel Came to the Empire

  • CARNEGIE HALL DEBUT

    Zabriel debuted at Carnegie Hall in NY

  • PERFORMANCE ANNOUNCEMENT

    Alabama Shakespeare Festival

  • AWARD ANNOUNCEMENT

    Zabriel Rivers is the winner of the European Music Competition

  • PERFORMANCE ANOUNCEMENT

    Zabriel will be playing the role of Jim in “Big River”

  • PERFORMANCE ANNOUNCEMENT

    Huntington Theater

  • AWARD ANNOUNCEMENT

    Zabriel Rivers is the winner of the Vann Vocal Institute Competition

  • ARTIST ANNOUNCEMENT

    Zabriel Rivers is an Apprentice Artist at Opera Viva in Verona, Italy

Vocal Arts Review

"Zabriel Rivers possesses a voice of rare beauty—his silvery timbre shimmers with radiant precision, soaring through coloratura passages with elegance and control. A baroque countertenor of remarkable presence and poise."

The Classical Journal

"In Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater at Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium, Zabriel Rivers delivered a performance of haunting depth and spiritual luminosity. His countertenor voice floated through the hall with ethereal grace, leaving the audience breathless."

ABOUT

Zabriel Rivers is an international Gullah singer and cultural artist whose work is redefining the global perception of traditional Gullah music. Celebrated for his “silvery timbre” and “extraordinary expressiveness,” Rivers brings the language, songs, and spirit of the Gullah-Geechee people to some of the world’s most respected stages. Through his remarkable voice and powerful storytelling, he bridges ancestral tradition and contemporary performance with authenticity and grace.

His recent appearances include acclaimed performances of Ballad to a Brown King (2024) and Stabat Mater (2023) at Carnegie Hall, Freedom Song: When Gospel Came to the Empire with the Rochester Oratorio Society (2024), and Watch Night at the Perelman Performing Arts Center (2023). In theater, Rivers has brought his heritage and artistry to the stage in Jubilee at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival (2023) and Cosmic Cowboy at the Emerson Paramount Theater (2022).

Biography

MORE WAYS TO HELP

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Behind the Music – Stories and inspiration behind A Gullah Evening with Zabriel.

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