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The 2025 Mazzoni Center Honors culminates in a radiant musical tribute as Richard Barone and Tawatha Agee take the stage for a show-stopping finale honoring the legendary Melba Moore. This powerful performance, premiering on December 9, 2025, celebrates Moore’s groundbreaking influence across Broadway, R&B, and LGBTQ+ advocacy.
Watch the video:
Two Musical Icons, One Powerful Moment
Richard Barone, acclaimed solo artist and frontman of The Bongos, is known for his eclectic style and deep roots in the New York music scene. Tawatha Agee, the unmistakable voice behind the band Mtume’s hit “Juicy Fruit,” brings powerhouse vocals and decades of soul, funk, and R&B artistry to the stage.
Together, they join forces in a performance that transcends genre and celebrates the essence of Melba Moore’s career: fearless, genre-defying, and emotionally resonant. Their finale honors not only Moore’s artistic legacy but also her tireless advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights and representation.
A Tribute to Melba Moore
Melba Moore has long been a beacon in both the arts and LGBTQ+ communities. With a Tony Award, multiple Grammy nominations, chart-topping R&B hits, and boundary-breaking Broadway roles—including becoming the first Black woman to play Fantine in Les Misérables—her career has inspired generations.
More than a musical icon, Moore has remained a visible and vocal supporter of LGBTQ+ people throughout her life. This year’s Honors event recognized not just her talent, but her transformative impact on visibility and inclusion in entertainment.
What Is Mazzoni Center Honors?
The Mazzoni Center Honors is an annual celebration hosted at Marian Anderson Hall in The Kimmel Center, paying tribute to individuals whose lives and work uplift and advocate for LGBTQ+ communities. The 2025 ceremony marked its third year, honoring Melba Moore for her contributions to the arts and her commitment to equality and justice.
Each performance in the Honors series reflects Moore’s wide-reaching influence across genres and generations—from soul and disco to musical theater and gospel—creating a night of unity, remembrance, and celebration.
Support the Work of Mazzoni Center
Beyond the music, the Mazzoni Center Honors supports the vital mission of the Mazzoni Center, Philadelphia’s leading LGBTQ+ health and wellness provider. Their work includes HIV prevention and care, gender-affirming services, mental health support, legal advocacy, and more.
Make a difference today by donating at:
www.mazzonicenter.org/donate
Closing Notes on a Night to Remember
As Richard Barone and Tawatha Agee close the evening with “The Finale,” the energy and message of the Mazzoni Center Honors resonate far beyond the stage. It is a moment of collective gratitude—honoring an icon, uplifting a community, and inspiring a new generation to continue the work of justice, joy, and celebration through the arts.
Watch the video:
Two Musical Icons, One Powerful Moment
Richard Barone, acclaimed solo artist and frontman of The Bongos, is known for his eclectic style and deep roots in the New York music scene. Tawatha Agee, the unmistakable voice behind the band Mtume’s hit “Juicy Fruit,” brings powerhouse vocals and decades of soul, funk, and R&B artistry to the stage.
Together, they join forces in a performance that transcends genre and celebrates the essence of Melba Moore’s career: fearless, genre-defying, and emotionally resonant. Their finale honors not only Moore’s artistic legacy but also her tireless advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights and representation.
A Tribute to Melba Moore
Melba Moore has long been a beacon in both the arts and LGBTQ+ communities. With a Tony Award, multiple Grammy nominations, chart-topping R&B hits, and boundary-breaking Broadway roles—including becoming the first Black woman to play Fantine in Les Misérables—her career has inspired generations.
More than a musical icon, Moore has remained a visible and vocal supporter of LGBTQ+ people throughout her life. This year’s Honors event recognized not just her talent, but her transformative impact on visibility and inclusion in entertainment.
What Is Mazzoni Center Honors?
The Mazzoni Center Honors is an annual celebration hosted at Marian Anderson Hall in The Kimmel Center, paying tribute to individuals whose lives and work uplift and advocate for LGBTQ+ communities. The 2025 ceremony marked its third year, honoring Melba Moore for her contributions to the arts and her commitment to equality and justice.
Each performance in the Honors series reflects Moore’s wide-reaching influence across genres and generations—from soul and disco to musical theater and gospel—creating a night of unity, remembrance, and celebration.
Support the Work of Mazzoni Center
Beyond the music, the Mazzoni Center Honors supports the vital mission of the Mazzoni Center, Philadelphia’s leading LGBTQ+ health and wellness provider. Their work includes HIV prevention and care, gender-affirming services, mental health support, legal advocacy, and more.
Make a difference today by donating at:
www.mazzonicenter.org/donate
Closing Notes on a Night to Remember
As Richard Barone and Tawatha Agee close the evening with “The Finale,” the energy and message of the Mazzoni Center Honors resonate far beyond the stage. It is a moment of collective gratitude—honoring an icon, uplifting a community, and inspiring a new generation to continue the work of justice, joy, and celebration through the arts.
