Dr. Rosephanye Dunn Powell, Associate Professor of Voice and Coordinator
of Voice Studies, holds degrees from Alabama State University (B.M.E.,
summa cum laude), Westminster Choir College (M.M. in vocal performance
and pedagogy, with distinction), and The Florida State University (D.M.
in vocal performance, University Fellow). Dr. Powell served on the
faculties of Philander Smith College (AR) and Georgia Southern
University before coming to Auburn.
Dr. Powell's soprano singing has brought her, successfully, through
recital, concert, and oratorio performances throughout the South and
Northeast regions of the United States. Her oratorio performances
include Haydn's Mass in Time of War, Vivaldi's Gloria, Handel's Messiah,
and Israel in Egypt, Mozart's Requiem, and Saint-Saens' Christmas
Oratorio. During her career, Dr. Powell has distinguished herself as a
researcher, interpreter and performer of solo vocal works by William
Grant Still, and the African-American spiritual. She has presented
numerous recitals and lecture-recitals at churches, concert halls,
universities and professional meetings around the country. Her doctoral
treatise, The Art Songs of William Grant Still, is considered an
authoritative work on the subject, and her article "William Grant Still:
His Life and His Songs" was published in the prestigious NATS Journal of
Singing. Dr. Powell served as the editor and wrote the introduction for
William Grant Still: An Art Song Collection published by William Grant
Still Music. Her article, "The African-American Spritual: Preparation
and Performance Considerations" was published in the NATS Journal of
Singing, May/June volume, 2005.
Dr. Powell is a nationally-recognized composer and arranger of choral
music, currently published by the Hal Leonard Corporation, Gentry
Publications/Fred Bock Music, and Alliance Music Publications. As one of
the country’s premier women composers of choral music, her works are in
great demand at schools, churches, and choral festivals around the
world. Dr. Powell's works have been conducted and premiered by
internationally-renowned choral conductors, including, but not limited
to, Anton Armstrong, Philip Brunelle, Bob Chilcott, Rodney Eichenberger,
Albert McNeil, Tim Seelig, and André Thomas. Presently, Dr. Powell has
begun work on several commissions for the 2009-2010 season, including a
multi-movement work for chorus and orchestra for the Baltimore Choral
Arts Society (MD). Recent commissions include, but are not limited to,
Hope Come True, a suite of five songs for SSAA and SATB composed and
arranged for MUSE Cincinnati's Women's Choir (OH), and premiered by MUSE
and Central State University Chorus (2008); Rejoice!, for chorus, organ,
trumpets, and timpani composed for the 50th Anniversary of Holy Trinity
Episcopal Church, Auburn, Alabama (2007); Lullaby, a jazz ballad for
women's chorus composed for Bella Voce Women's Ensemble, Las Vegas,
Nevada (2007); Ev'ry Time I Feel the Spirit, arranged for The Sofia
Chamber Choir “Vassil Arnaudov”- Bulgaria, Southeastern Europe (2006).
Children of the Rainbow, an original work, composed for the Columbus
(OH) Children's Choir and the 2005 Children's Choral Festival of
African-American Music; Pete, Pete arranged for the Montgomery Academy
Middle School Chorus for the 2005 Alabama Music Educators Association
State Conference; Sicut Cervus composed for the 25th Anniversary of the
Texas Collegiate Women's Choral Festival, (2004); Still I Rise composed
for Vox Femina, Los Angeles, CA (2004); Sometimes I Feel Like A
Motherless Child arranged for the 35th anniversary of VocalEssence
(Minneapolis, MN, 2003); I'm Gonna Let It Shine and Good News, two
spirituals adapted and arranged for "The Spiritual for the New Millenium
Project" at Penn State University (2002); I Dream A World, composed for
the University of Arkansas Concert Choir (2001); Ebony Trilogy (E Oru O,
Drinkin' of the Wine, Spread the Love), composed for the Trumann State
University Chorus (2000); and The Promise Lives On ("Sing for the
Cure"), commissioned by the Women's Chorus of Dallas and the Turtle
Creek Chorale, for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation (2000).
Dr. Powell is a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors,
and Publishers (ASCAP), the American Choral Directors Association
(ACDA), the College Music Society (CMS), the National Association of
Teachers of Singing (NATS) and the Music Educators National Conference
(MENC). Dr. Powell is listed in the first edition of the international
publication Who Is Who in Choral Music, released September 2007. She has
been included in Who's Who Among America's Teachers and Outstanding
Young Women in America in recent years.