Denyce Graves facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Denyce Graves
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Denyce Graves in Baltimore, Maryland, 2013
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| Born | March 7, 1964 |
| Occupation | Opera singer (mezzo-soprano) |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Spouse(s) | Robert Montgomery |
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Denyce Graves (born March 7, 1964) is a famous American opera singer. She is known for her powerful mezzo-soprano voice. A mezzo-soprano is a female singer whose voice is lower than a soprano but higher than a contralto. Graves has performed in many of the world's biggest opera houses. She is especially famous for her roles in the operas Carmen and Samson et Dalila.
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Denyce Graves' Early Life
Denyce Graves was born in Washington, D.C., on March 7, 1964. Her parents are Charles Graves and Dorothy Graves-Kenner. She grew up in the Bellevue area of Washington with her mother. Denyce was the middle child of three children.
Learning to Sing
She went to the Duke Ellington School of the Arts and graduated in 1981. After high school, Graves studied singing at two well-known music schools. These were the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and the New England Conservatory. She also trained at the Wolf Trap Opera Company. This company helps young singers get ready for professional careers.
Starting Her Opera Journey
Later, she joined the Houston Opera Studio from 1988 to 1990. Here, she continued to improve her singing skills. These early experiences helped her prepare for a big career in opera.
Denyce Graves' Amazing Career
Denyce Graves made her first appearance at the Metropolitan Opera in 1995. This is one of the most famous opera houses in the world. Since then, she has sung in many other important opera houses. She is known for her wide range of roles. However, her most famous parts are the main characters in Carmen and Samson et Dalila.
Singing for Children
Graves also appeared on the children's TV show Between the Lions. On this show, she used her singing talent to help children learn about word sounds. This showed her love for teaching and connecting with young audiences.
Important Performances
She has sung at many important events. On January 20, 2005, she sang "American Anthem" at a special ceremony. This was during the 55th Presidential Inauguration for President George W. Bush.
Remembering 9/11
On September 14, 2001, Graves sang at a memorial service. This service was for the victims of the 9/11 attacks. She sang "America the Beautiful" and "The Lord's Prayer." Many important people attended, including President Bush.
Other Projects and Roles
In 2003, Graves performed for a TV special called Denyce Graves: Breaking the Rules. She also hosted a radio show called Voce di Donna (Voice of a Lady). On her show, she interviewed other opera singers.
New Operas
In 2005, she sang the main role in a new opera called Margaret Garner. This opera was created by Richard Danielpour and Toni Morrison. She also performed in another new opera, Champion, in 2013. This opera was about boxing.
Singing for Justices and in Space
In May 2010, Graves performed for the Supreme Court justices. This concert took place in the United States Supreme Court Building. In 2014, her recording of "We Shall Overcome" was sent into space. It was part of the first test flight of the Orion spacecraft.
Honoring a Friend
On September 25, 2020, Graves sang at the US Capitol. This was during a ceremony for her friend, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Justice Ginsburg was a big fan of opera.
Recent Performances
In November 2022, she sang the role of Sally in the opera The Hours. This performance was at the Metropolitan Opera. One of her performances was even shown in movie theaters as part of the Metropolitan Opera Live in HD series.
Awards and Honors
Denyce Graves has received many awards for her talent. In 2017, The Washington Performing Arts honored her. They gave her the Ambassador of the Arts Award. In 2019, she received the Golden Plate Award. This award came from the American Academy of Achievement. It was presented by Dr. Ben Carson.
See also
In Spanish: Denyce Graves para niños
