Singer of William Grant Still's 'The Breath of a Rose' is Second in Georgia Competition

[William Grant Still (1895-1978)]

Georgia Perimeter College

GPC Voice Student Wins Second Place in State

03/10/2009

Author: Rebecca Rakoczy

“A Georgia Perimeter music student achieved second place voice honors and eight GPC students got their chance to hone their audition skills during a recent state conference hosted by the Georgia chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing. The event at Kennesaw State University attracted more than 400 student singers from across Georgia. They sang pieces in English, French, German and Spanish ranging from 17th century baroque pieces to a contemporary art song. The students competed in various divisions, based on years spent studying voice.

“Georgia Perimeter student Issiah Haynes placed second in the state among first year singers.” “Each student had to prepare and sing an 'art' song in the original language it was written and a contemporary art song, among other choices. Haynes sang the spiritual, 'He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands,' arranged by Moses Hogan, and the operatic piece, 'Come Away Fellow Sailors,' by Henry Purcell. He also sang African-American composer William Grant Still’s 'The Breath of a Rose,' a setting of a poem by Langston Hughes.”   [William Grant Still (1895-1978) is profiled at AfriClassical.com, where a complete Works List by Dr. Dominique-René de Lerma is also found]