A Jazzy Brunch with ArtSmart

One of the greatest international sopranos today, Latonia Moore has sung at many of the world’s most important opera houses, including the Metropolitan Opera, the Royal Opera Covent Garden, Staatsoper Berlin, and the Arena di Verona. She has pioneered performances of new operas highlighting untold African American stories and is outspoken on racial inequality and inclusivity in the arts. In 2023, Ms. Moore opened the Metropolitan Opera as Sister Rose in Jake Heggie’s Dead Man Walking, and reprised her role there as Billie in Terence Blanchard’s Fire Shut Up in My Bones, the first opera by a black composer to ever be performed at the Metropolitan Opera. In the 2021/22 season, she sang Emelda Griffiths in the New York premiere of Blanchard’s Champion at the Metropolitan Opera. Honors and awards include the Maria Callas Award from The Dallas Opera, a Richard Tucker Foundation grant, first prize in the Marseilles Competition, and first prize in the International Competition dell’Opera in Dresden. Ms. Moore is a native of Houston, Texas.

Danette E. Sheppard-Vaughn (she/her) is a powerhouse performer whose voice, presence, and sparkle light up every stage she graces. A proud native New Yorker now based in Jersey City, Danette has broken barriers and made history across the worlds of Broadway, circus, and musical theatre. 

She is one of only eight female ringmasters in recorded history and holds the distinction of being the first featured female vocalist in the 150-year legacy of Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus. In 2024, she brought her commanding voice and signature style to Broadway with Omnium Circus, where she made history again as its first female Ringmaster.

Danette’s soaring vocals were first heard at age 14 in Harlem’s Memorial Baptist Church, launching a vibrant career that’s taken her across international stages, sharing the stage with legends like Patti LaBelle, Freda Payne, and Debbie Gibson. Her extensive credits include a three-month European tour of Jesus Christ Superstar (Soul Girl/ Mary), a national tour of Smokey Joe’s Café with Gladys Knight, a starring role in the Off-Broadway hit Red Hot Broadway with BJ Crosby, and standout performances in regional productions of Pippin (Berthe), In the Heights (Abuela), Sister Act (Mother Superior), Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (Jewel), The Last Session (Tryshia), Chicago (Mama Morton), Nunsense (Sister Mary Herbert), and Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Nell)—a role that earned her the Connecticut Critics Circle Award.

A proud member of Actors’ Equity Association, a certified Professional Life Coach, and a passionate vocal mentor with ArtSmart since 2023, Danette holds a B.A. in Music with a concentration in Musical Theater from New Jersey City University. Known for her infectious energy, glitter-loving style, and unwavering dedication to uplifting others, she continues to inspire audiences and students alike with every note she sings. When she’s not onstage, she can be found cooking, dancing, swimming, listening to music, and spending time with her family—especially her daughter Bree, a singer and performer in her own right.

Directly translated as ‘Always Today’, Sempre Oggi is all about embracing the very best of right now. Born from Italian tradition and heritage, our menu takes seasonal and local ingredients and places them center stage, creating an experience that helps our guests live fully and mindfully, every day.

Brought forth by Robert Guarino in partnership with Simon Oren of Chef Driven Hospitality, Sempre Oggi draws inspiration from renowned Italian architect and designer, Gio Ponti. The bar is an expression of his later career, flooded with custom handmade ceramic tiles that mimic his worldwide collaboration with Ceramica D’Agostino. A custom floating chandelier nods to Ponti’s love for playing with geometric forms, light and color; at once both modern and traditional.

From the Michelin Guide:

“From its apartments to its restaurants, New York is well known for its diminutive spaces. And then there’s Sempre Oggi. This Upper West Side spot is the exact opposite. Cavernous and contemporary with gold busts enhancing the space, it’s Italian in every way, especially on the menu. While they have plenty of the usual suspects, these dishes are given a bit of flair (think fresh calamari with fresh herbs and crème fraîche). Order the rigatoni for a plate of house-made pasta interlaced with crispy guanciale and sauteed onion in a roasted tomato sauce, then for dessert, go classic tiramisu for an on-point iteration in all of its fluffy, creamy delight.”

Learn more at semprenyc.com.