Vy Higgensen

Vy Higginsen, noted author, playwright, radio and TV personality, has garnered an excellent reputation and won many awards for providing excellent products and services to African-American audiences.

After a decade of being behind the microphone and on major New York stations (WBLS-FM, WWRL-AM, WRKS-FM), Vy published and edited Unique NY, a lifestyles magazine designed for African-Americans and tourists.  In 1983, Vy co-wrote, produced and directed the classic black Gospel musical Mama I Want To Sing!, which ran for eight years and 2,200 performances at the Off-Broadway Heckscher Theater in East Harlem. 

In March 1986, Mama began a national tour of the USA, playing two consecutive years throughout major cities such as Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles/San Francisco, Philadelphia and Washington.  International tours include Austria, Japan, Germany, Greece, Italy, Switzerland, and Yugoslavia. Mama also played for six months on the West End of London. 

In March 1988, Vy co-produced Joe Turner’s Come and Gone by August Wilson on Broadway. In 2002, Vy was ordained as an Interfaith Minister. Led by her passion for the sounds and music she grew up hearing, Vy conceived and created Alive! which documents the sounds, music, and stories of our black American musical landscape.

Vy continues to write and produce original work as the executive director of the Emmy Award-winning Mama Foundation for the Arts in Harlem, New York.

DJ Stormin' Norman

Dj Stormin' Norman originally hails from East London, UK and is now a resident of Harlem, USA. In the 90's, he was part of a groundbreaking DJ collective who brought the Thunderstorm Mix on WBLS 107.5FM NYC, introducing live mixing to daytime radio previously reserved for weekend nights broadcasted from night-clubs, setting a new precedent in national radio. For over 20 years, he's played major New York clubs, exclusive downtown spots, elite private events and world touring.  Currently dj & produces the most anticipated event of the Summer Season in New York City Sundae Sermon, bringing over thousands of attendees per event together in Harlem parks termed by many “the Woodstock of Harlem”.  Continuing his brand Dj Stormin' Norman Host his own show entitled Sundae Sermon Radio on WHCR 90.3fm, a record label Sundae Sermon Recordings and for 2015 the non-for-profit Sundae Sermon Foundation. Dj Stormin’ Norman is also the DJ resident of Marcus Samuelsson’s Red Rooster in Harlem.