Augusta has given the world two music greats albeit in two great extremes, James Brown and Jessye Norman!
From The Augusta Chronicle, October 1, 2019
By Susan McCord Staff Writer
Opera great and Augusta native Jessye Norman has died at 74, The Associated Press reported.
Norman was scheduled to appear in Augusta on Oct. 11 for the dedication of Eighth Street as Jessye Norman Boulevard.
A statement from her family said Norman died at 7:54 a.m. Monday from septic shock and multi-organ failure related to complications from a 2015 spinal cord injury.
“As an opera superstar, she commanded the world’s stages, but here in Augusta, she quietly used the arts to make a positive impact on the lives of hundreds of children each year,” said Gary Dennis, executive director of the Jessye Norman School of the Arts. “The world knew her voice and our school knew her kindness and generous heart.
“She challenged all of us to live up to our full potential and to represent something larger than ourselves. She will be greatly missed.”
Norman and the Rachel Longstreet Foundation endowed the Augusta school, a performing arts program for disadvantaged students, when it opened in 2003.
Damien Sneed, Norman’s accompanist who graduated from Davidson Fine Arts magnet school in Augusta, was with Norman and family members Monday, Dennis said.
Norman previously confirmed to Dennis she planned to attend the honorary street naming ceremony.
The ceremony will go on, said Augusta arts benefactor Ellis Johnson, a founding board member of the school and now a member emeritus.
Johnson said he last saw Norman in February when he took a group of Jessye Norman school students to Toronto. Norman was the recipient of the prestigious Glenn Gould Prize, a Canadian lifetime award for enriching the human condition through the arts.
“She was our friend,” Johnson said of himself and his late wife, Ann. “For many years we had many associations, especially when she would come to Paine College to perform. We would always get together receptions and parties that she would come to and enjoy.”
Johnson said Norman loved humanity and especially children, which showed in her involvement with the Augusta school.
“She was just a lovely person who cared for humanity,” he said. “She especially was fond of and cared for children. She loved children in such a way that in the very first year of the school’s existence, she endowed. That made a great deal to the founding of the school and she has never stopped supporting the school.”
When the group was in Toronto, Johnson asked Norman if she would join them for dinner.
“Her response was, ‘With pleasure, Ellis. I would be happy to have dinner with them,’” Johnson said.
Don Edmunds, director of artistic operations, education and outreach for the Augusta Symphony, shared a very special memory he has of Norman.
While practicing organ years ago, Edmunds said he “suddenly heard this amazing soprano voice.” Turning around, it was Norman, in Augusta to meet with students.
“I’d forgotten she was expected and apologized to her,” he said. “She said, ‘Oh please don’t stop’” and he continued to practice hymns while she sang.
“For 30 minutes I played for this great star. The four times we met after, she called me by name. I won’t ever forget that accidental meeting – ever,” Edmunds said.
During their encounter Norman was “no diva, no world-renowned soprano. Just her singing to the glory of God,” he said. “I’m not ever forgetting how warm and kind she was.”
In a statement to the AP, family members said Norman’s performances and humanitarian work will continue to inspire.
“We are so proud of Jessye’s musical achievements and the inspiration that she provided to audiences around the world that will continue to be a source of joy. We are equally proud of her humanitarian endeavors addressing matters such as hunger, homelessness, youth development, and arts and culture education.”
The opera star’s dazzling career saw her provide memorable performances and appearances at historic events, including President Reagan’s inauguration, Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday, Jackie Kennedy Onassis’ funeral and the 200th anniversary of Bastille Day in Paris.
Norman attended C.T. Walker Elementary, A.R. Johnson Middle and Lucy Craft Laney High schools, then received a full scholarship at age 16 to Howard University. Her talent was apparent at an early age.
At Howard she studied piano, voice and music, while singing in the university choir. At 20 she won the National Society of Arts and Letters singing competition. Norman continued her education at the Peabody Conservatory and University of Michigan.
She grew up in Augusta listening to Saturday afternoon broadcasts of the Metropolitan Opera while cleaning her family’s home on Forest Avenue. Norman won her first talent contest singing in nearby Mount Calvary Baptist Church where her father was superintendent of the Sunday school classes.
“My goal has always been to be the very best singer I can be at any particular time,” she said in a 1983 newspaper interview.
Among her many accomplishments are induction into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, Kennedy Center Honors award and the National Medal of Arts. The amphitheater at Riverwalk Augusta is named in her honor.
Staff writer Erika Wells contributed to this article.
Opera star, Augusta native Norman dies
Let’s remember the incredible Jessye Norman by savoring this performance with the equally incredible Kathleen Battle.
By Susan McCord Staff Writer
Opera great and Augusta native Jessye Norman has died at 74, The Associated Press reported.
Norman was scheduled to appear in Augusta on Oct. 11 for the dedication of Eighth Street as Jessye Norman Boulevard.
A statement from her family said Norman died at 7:54 a.m. Monday from septic shock and multi-organ failure related to complications from a 2015 spinal cord injury.
“As an opera superstar, she commanded the world’s stages, but here in Augusta, she quietly used the arts to make a positive impact on the lives of hundreds of children each year,” said Gary Dennis, executive director of the Jessye Norman School of the Arts. “The world knew her voice and our school knew her kindness and generous heart.
“She challenged all of us to live up to our full potential and to represent something larger than ourselves. She will be greatly missed.”
Norman and the Rachel Longstreet Foundation endowed the Augusta school, a performing arts program for disadvantaged students, when it opened in 2003.
Damien Sneed, Norman’s accompanist who graduated from Davidson Fine Arts magnet school in Augusta, was with Norman and family members Monday, Dennis said.
Norman previously confirmed to Dennis she planned to attend the honorary street naming ceremony.
The ceremony will go on, said Augusta arts benefactor Ellis Johnson, a founding board member of the school and now a member emeritus.
Johnson said he last saw Norman in February when he took a group of Jessye Norman school students to Toronto. Norman was the recipient of the prestigious Glenn Gould Prize, a Canadian lifetime award for enriching the human condition through the arts.
“She was our friend,” Johnson said of himself and his late wife, Ann. “For many years we had many associations, especially when she would come to Paine College to perform. We would always get together receptions and parties that she would come to and enjoy.”
Johnson said Norman loved humanity and especially children, which showed in her involvement with the Augusta school.
“She was just a lovely person who cared for humanity,” he said. “She especially was fond of and cared for children. She loved children in such a way that in the very first year of the school’s existence, she endowed. That made a great deal to the founding of the school and she has never stopped supporting the school.”
When the group was in Toronto, Johnson asked Norman if she would join them for dinner.
“Her response was, ‘With pleasure, Ellis. I would be happy to have dinner with them,’” Johnson said.
Don Edmunds, director of artistic operations, education and outreach for the Augusta Symphony, shared a very special memory he has of Norman.
While practicing organ years ago, Edmunds said he “suddenly heard this amazing soprano voice.” Turning around, it was Norman, in Augusta to meet with students.
“I’d forgotten she was expected and apologized to her,” he said. “She said, ‘Oh please don’t stop’” and he continued to practice hymns while she sang.
“For 30 minutes I played for this great star. The four times we met after, she called me by name. I won’t ever forget that accidental meeting – ever,” Edmunds said.
During their encounter Norman was “no diva, no world-renowned soprano. Just her singing to the glory of God,” he said. “I’m not ever forgetting how warm and kind she was.”
In a statement to the AP, family members said Norman’s performances and humanitarian work will continue to inspire.
“We are so proud of Jessye’s musical achievements and the inspiration that she provided to audiences around the world that will continue to be a source of joy. We are equally proud of her humanitarian endeavors addressing matters such as hunger, homelessness, youth development, and arts and culture education.”
The opera star’s dazzling career saw her provide memorable performances and appearances at historic events, including President Reagan’s inauguration, Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday, Jackie Kennedy Onassis’ funeral and the 200th anniversary of Bastille Day in Paris.
Norman attended C.T. Walker Elementary, A.R. Johnson Middle and Lucy Craft Laney High schools, then received a full scholarship at age 16 to Howard University. Her talent was apparent at an early age.
At Howard she studied piano, voice and music, while singing in the university choir. At 20 she won the National Society of Arts and Letters singing competition. Norman continued her education at the Peabody Conservatory and University of Michigan.
She grew up in Augusta listening to Saturday afternoon broadcasts of the Metropolitan Opera while cleaning her family’s home on Forest Avenue. Norman won her first talent contest singing in nearby Mount Calvary Baptist Church where her father was superintendent of the Sunday school classes.
“My goal has always been to be the very best singer I can be at any particular time,” she said in a 1983 newspaper interview.
Among her many accomplishments are induction into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, Kennedy Center Honors award and the National Medal of Arts. The amphitheater at Riverwalk Augusta is named in her honor.
Staff writer Erika Wells contributed to this article.
1 comment:
Some of her Christmas concerts were taped in the First Baptist Church in Augusta with the Augusta Chorale Society as her chorus. That choral group was one of the finest small city vocal groups I ever encountered. I wanted to sing with them, but it was too difficult to manage my evening schedules with their practice schedules, so I enjoyed them as a spectator!
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