Opera singer Denyce Graves tells how growing up in Anacostia helped her career

Opera singer Denyce Graves’ voice has taken her around the world – but her journey started in Southeast D.C.’s Anacostia neighborhood.

As Graves helped to inspire the next generation of opera stars, she spoke with News4 about her D.C. roots.

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Graves was on stage last week at the French embassy but she wasn’t performing; she was teaching.

“You don’t need to be off to the races. Music also needs silence sometimes,” she told one singer.

Graves and fellow opera superstar Renée Fleming sent the week teaching master classes to young opera hopefuls. The event was sponsored by Opera for Peace, a global nonprofit that fosters young talent around the world.

“Building on the success of our past Opera for Peace academies in Europ