Rosephanye Powell facts for kids

Rosephanye Powell, born in 1962, is an American composer, singer, and professor. Her name is pronounced ro-SEH-fuh-nee. She is known as one of America's top composers of choral music. Choral music is music written for a group of singers, like a choir.

Rosephanye Powell has written many different types of songs. Her music is published by major companies. She writes both religious and non-religious songs. These songs are for mixed choirs, women's choirs, men's choirs, and children's choirs. Her music often has strong rhythms and beautiful melodies. She uses rich harmonies, sometimes inspired by African-American music styles. Her music is loved by people all over the world, especially in Europe and Asia. She is often asked to visit schools and groups. She also helps judge music competitions, conducts choirs, and performs.

Her Life Story

Rosephanye Dunn Powell was born in Lanett, Alabama. When she was a child, she learned to play the piano and saxophone. She also loved to sing in choirs. In high school, she was a great athlete in track and basketball. She played saxophone in the marching band. She also acted in school plays.

In 1980, she graduated at the top of her class from West Point High School. She received a scholarship to play basketball at Alabama State University. However, she soon realized she could not play basketball and study music at the same time. She chose to focus on music.

She earned her first music degree from Alabama State University in 1984. She then earned a master's degree in singing from Westminster Choir College in 1987. In 1993, she received her Doctor of Music degree from The Florida State University.

Before working at Auburn University, she taught at other colleges. These included Philander Smith College and Georgia Southern University. Rosephanye Powell is married to William C. Powell, who is also a choral conductor. They have two daughters, Camille Elise and Kaitlyn Elizabeth. Her husband often helps arrange her music for different types of choirs.

Before becoming a famous composer, Rosephanye Powell studied and performed music by William Grant Still. He was a very important African-American composer. She also focused on singing and understanding African-American spirituals. Because of her studies, she is an expert on these topics. She has written articles for important music journals. She also had a radio show segment called Living History. On this show, she shared short stories about Black music and history.

In 2014, her major work, "The Cry of Jeremiah," was performed. It was played at Lincoln Center in New York City. In 2011, she and her husband helped edit a book called Spirituals for Upper Voices. This book has twelve spirituals arranged for high voices. In 2010, her work Christmas Give was featured on a CD. In 2009, she received the Living Legend Award. This award was given at the California State University African Diaspora Sacred Music Festival. She has also been listed in important publications like Who Is Who in Choral Music.

Her Music Works

Rosephanye Powell writes many different kinds of music. She creates both religious and non-religious pieces. These are for mixed choirs, men's choirs, women's choirs, and children's voices.

Here are some of her published works:

• The Cry of Jeremiah (four songs for choir, organ, and orchestra with a narrator), 2012
  • Is Not His Word Like A Fire
  • O Lord, You Have Deceived Me
  • Cursed Be the Day
  • Hallelujah!
• Spirituals for Upper Voices (twelve songs for high voices, edited with William C. Powell), 2011
• Down by the Riverside for choir and piano, 2011
• Christmas Give, a group of six songs for choir, soloist, and orchestra, 2010

  1. Have You Seen the Baby Jesus (sung without instruments); 2. Christmas Memories; 3. Ring the Bells; 4. Holy Night; 5. Ogo ni fun Oluwa (with African drums); 6. Christus Natus Est (words by poet Countee Cullen)

• Be Glad in the Lord sung without instruments, 2009
• Solidaridad a Spanish song with accompaniment, 2008
• Hope Come True, a group of songs for women's choir and mixed choir, 2008

  1. In Dat Great Giddin' Up Mo'nin (mixed choir without instruments); 2. Hope Come True (women's choir); 3. Keep Yo' Lamps (women's choir); 4. To Sit and Dream (words by Langston Hughes)

• Rejoice!, for choir, organ, trumpets, and timpani, 2007
• He Is Marvelous for choir, 2007
• Glory Hallelujah To Duh Newborn King Christmas song without instruments, 2007
• As the Deer Pants for women's choir with accompaniment, 2006
• Ev'ry Time I Feel the Spirit, arranged for a choir in Bulgaria, 2006
• Gwendete a two-part African song, 2006
• Come Unto Me All Ye That Labour, 2006
• Children of the Rainbow, for children's choir, 2005
• Pete, Pete for high voices, piano, and African drums, 2005
• Sicut Cervus for women's voices, 2004
• Still I Rise for women's choir, 2005
• Sometimes I Feel like a Motherless Child sung without instruments, 2003
• Sing Unto The Lord sung without instruments, 2003
• Good News! for women's choir without instruments, 2003
• Drinkin' of the Wine sung without instruments, 2002
• Sorida for choir and African drums, 2002
• Non Nobis Domine for mixed, women's, and men's choirs, 2002
• Gloria for choir with accompaniment, 2002
• I Dream A World for choir with accompaniment, 2002
• I Want to Die While You Love Me for women's choir with accompaniment, 2016
• The Promise Lives On for choir, 2000
• Wade in the Water sung without instruments, 2000
• Come Let's Celebrate Christmas song for choir, 2000
• Grumble Too Much for men's or women's choir, 2000
• Three Psalms of David, 2000

  1. O God, You Are My God; 2. Make Haste, O God; 3.The Righteous Cry Out

• Kingston Market for 3-part high voices, 1999
• Ascribe to the Lord for mixed, women's, and men's choirs, 1998, 2001
• Wait On The Lord sung without instruments, 1997
• The Word Was God sung without instruments, 1996
• I Wanna Be Ready for mixed or women's choir, 1996/2004
• Kingston Market for high voices, children

Her music has also been released on CDs, including:

• Motherless Child (Rosephanye Powell)
• Christmas at America's First Cathedral (Baltimore Choral Arts and Orchestra)
• We Who Make Our Meaning Clear (MUSE: Cincinnati's Women's Choir)
• REFLECTIONS: Portraits from the Life of Christ (Oasis Chorale)
• Still I Rise (Vox Femina)

She has also written articles about music, such as:

• "Keeping the Choir", in Showchoir magazine
• "William Grant Still: His Life and His Songs", in NATS Journal of Singing
• "The African-American Spiritual: Preparation and Performance Considerations", in NATS Journal of Singing

See also

In Spanish: Rosephanye Powell para niños