HEARTSongs '26: The Power of Love

HEARTS’ fifth annual HEARTSongs event, “The Power of Lov,e” will take place at historic Cedar Grove on Valentine’s Day, February 14th at 2:00 PM.

HEARTSongs '26: The Power of Love 

5th Anniversary with History, Nature, Art, Dance, Music, and Poetry

HEARTS is thrilled to announce the return of its annual poetry-themed spectacular, HEARTSongs. This year’s edition, HEARTSongs '26: The Power of Love, celebrates the 5th Anniversary of place-based HEARTS Happenings at Huntersville's historic Cedar Grove, 8229 Gilead Road, Huntersville, NC 28078. It all happens on Saturday, February 14, 2026, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM.

This free, community-wide "happening" honors the historical connection between the poet George Moses Horton, the first enslaved American to be published, and Richard Torrance of Cedar Grove. HEARTS (history, ecology, arts, reunion, trails, store) expands the story each year through new creative performances and perspectives. Tickets are required, and donations are gratefully appreciated.

This year’s celebration promises a dynamic and moving lineup, presenting…

A Historic Story

• Michael D. Connor, retired Professor of Theatre Arts, professional actor, playwright, and director, will take the stage as George Moses Horton. Connor’s extensive credits include appearances in General Hospital, The Color Purple, Homeland, and Hunger Games. Mr. Connor will share Horton’s life story, focusing on his pivotal intersection with Cedar Grove’s Richard Torrance at the University of Chapel Hill in 1854, writing love poems for Sophia Alexander and Mary McLean. 

Featured Performers

• Baran Dance, a Charlotte-based nonprofit professional contemporary dance company founded by Audrey Baran, will bring its bold physicality and thoughtful artistry to the event, creating accessible and exciting movement experiences.
• Live music featuring two distinguished musicians:
  • Natasha Witherspoon, an acclaimed international opera singer and vocal coach, is celebrated for her powerful and authentic interpretations of Negro spirituals. She has toured internationally with Porgy and Bess and performed with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.
  • Jennifer Gosselin, an accomplished collaborative pianist and accompanist from South Charlotte, studied at The Peabody Conservatory and has performed at The Kennedy Center.

• Keynote speaker and poet, Junious 'Jay' Ward, Charlotte's inaugural Poet Laureate, a National Slam champion (2018), and an Individual World Poetry Slam champion (2019), will share his Emmy-nominated poetry and his George Moses Horton influences. Ward is also a 2023 Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellow.

• The Power of Love Visual Art Exhibit

The event will also feature a stunning visual art exhibit showcasing works from three exceptional multidisciplinary artists in partnership with Nine-Eighteen-Nine Gallery, exploring the theme of Love.

• Tina Alberni: “I’m a multidisciplinary intuitive, semi-abstract artist working across painting, assemblage, and digital technologies to explore animal conservation, fragmentation, and humanity’s evolving relationship with nature, technology, and one another.”

  Princess Cureton: “My art is a personal reflection of life’s harmony and tension. blending paint with 3D relief sculpture to grow beyond the canvas. Rooted in culture and storytelling, each piece invites connection.”

• Ani Todd:  “I’m a storyteller by nature, so it feels only fitting that I use my work to tell a love story. I often create a series of pieces to narrate a journey, while ensuring that each work can also stand on its own. In this case, I used five pieces to tell the story of someone searching for love and ultimately finding it.”

We hope you can join us, and thank you for supporting HEARTS!