Vy Higginsen

Background

About Vy Higginsen

Vy HigginsenCultural leader | Arts educator | Founder, Mama Foundation for the Arts | Preserving and promoting the legacy of Black music Vy Higginsen is a renowned producer, educator, and cultural visionary dedicated to preserving the sound of African American music and elevating the voices of the Black community. As the founder and executive director of Mama Foundation for the Arts in Harlem, Vy has spent over two decades creating accessible pathways for people of all ages to experience the power of gospel, jazz, and rhythm & blues through collective music-making. A Harlem native, Vy made history as the first Black female radio personality at New York’s WBLS and the first woman to produce a major gospel musical in the U.S—the international hit Mama, I Want to Sing, now the longest-running Black off-Broadway musical in American history. Through the Mama Foundation, she continues her life’s mission of preserving, protecting, and promoting Black music by offering tuition-free music training, performance opportunities, and community programming. Her work empowers intergenerational artists to find their voices, tell their stories, and carry forward the cultural legacy of Black America. Vy’s commitment to cultural preservation and education has been recognized by major institutions and media platforms, including The Oprah Winfrey Show, 60 Minutes, and CBS Sunday Morning. She is widely regarded as a champion of Black excellence, a Harlem icon, and a transformative force in American arts and culture. Learn more at mamafoundation.org