Houston Ebony Opera Guild 40th Anniversary Celebration:
I too sing, America: American Stories
Presented by the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts with Houston Ebony Opera Guild
Jason Oby, conductor
John Cornelius II and Jan Taylor, featured conductors
John Cornelius II and Rolethial McKelvey, pianists
Houston Ebony Opera appears as part of the Hobby Center’s new annual initiative that celebrates and supports local artists who broaden our city’s cultural fabric and embody the iconic idea that Houston is Inspired. Building on the Hobby Center’s mission to serve as a connector, convenor, and incubator, this program brings audiences and artists together through experiences that center connection and community.
PART ONE
Highway 1 USA
An Opera in One Act by William Grant Still
Stage Director: Jason Oby
Music Director: John Cornelius, II
Set Design: Donyail Linsey
Assistant Stage Director: Julio Petersen, III
CAST:
Mary, Ardeen Pierre
Bob, Antoine Griggs
Nate, Bernard Kelly
Aunt Lou, Ariel Deshotel
The Sheriff, Gary Navy
The Doctor, Joseph Middleton
Members of the Church Committee
Antonia Adams, James Allen, DeVondra Brown, Veronica Rhodes-Buggs, Byron Cobbin, William Howard, Joseph Middleton, Barbara Robinson, Brittany Taylor, Meltonia Thomas, Dwight Ward
Townspeople/ HEOG Chorus
Freddie Abney, Antonia Adams, James Allen, Lo’ren Ballard, Devondra Brown, Veronica Rhodes- Buggs, Suzi Byrd, Byron Cobbin, James Coley, Deante Deese, Errin Hatter, William Howard, LaDonna Jackson, Cherry Jefferson, Joseph Middleton, Rita Minter, Lan Moore, Gary Navy, LuVora Williams-Wright, Meltonia Thomas, Barbara Robinson, Brittany Taylor, Sandra Walker, Dwight Ward
Intermission and Curtain Talk
Houston Ebony Opera: A Forty-Year Legacy of Music Making
Jan Taylor, Brenda Wimberly, Joan Hubert, Dorceal Duckens, Lela Anderson, Patricia Gregory
Jason Oby, Moderator
PART TWO:
A Legacy of Music Making
I, too, sing America | Margaret Bonds
Leon Turner, bass
Benedictus Es Domine | Calvin Fuller
HEOG Chorus
Rev. Wendy Wilkerson, Mistah Jones, trumpets
Jason Oby, conductor
Talk About a Child That Do Love Jesus | William L. Dawson
Brenda Wimberly, soprano
HEOG Chorus
Jason Oby, conductor
Come Ye Sinners Poor and Needy | John Cornelius II
HEOG Chorus
John Cornelius II, conductor
Love Let the Wind Cry | Undine Moore
Brenda Wimberly, soprano
Bella figlia dell’amore (from Rigoletto) | Giuseppi Verdi
Jolie Rocke, Gilda
Kenneth Gayle, Duke of Mantua
Suzi Byrd, Maddelena
Dorceal Duckens, Rigoletto
Ain’t Got Time to Die | Hall Johnson
Byron Cobbin, tenor
HEOG Chorus
Jason Oby, conductor
Hold Fast to Dreams | Roland Carter
A. Jan Taylor
Errin Hatter, soprano
HEOG Chorus
Houston Ebony Music Society Board of Directors
Angela Doucette
Linda Hollins
Kari Gray-Smith
Patricia Gregory
Connie Levo Howard, Vice Chair, Ex-Officio
Brenda Jefferson
Anthony Philpott
Acknowledgements
The Hobby Center For the Performing Arts
Texas Southern University
Westbury United Methodist Church
Program photo credit: Amitava Sarkar
Program Notes
Welcome to this special evening celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the Houston Ebony Opera Guild. For four decades, the Guild has remained steadfast in its mission to preserve and elevate African American contributions to opera and choral music. Founded by Dr. Robert A. Henry, this organization has provided a platform for African American artists while enriching audiences with world-class performances.
Tonight’s program not only honors the legacy of the Guild but also marks my transition as Artistic Director after 29 years of service in various capacities, beginning as a soloist in 1996. The first half of tonight’s program features a performance of Highway 1, USA, a compelling one-act opera by William Grant Still, affectionately known as “The Dean of African American Composers.” The Guild last performed this work nearly 25 years ago with a full orchestra on the stage of Miller Outdoor Theatre. This powerful opera explores themes of love, duty, and sacrifice. Through its poignant storytelling and lush musical score, Highway 1, USA exemplifies the depth and breadth of American opera and its alignment with HEOG’s mission of celebrating diverse narratives.
The second half of the program celebrates the Guild’s rich musical legacy through selections from the choral, operatic, and art song repertoire. Each piece pays tribute to key figures whose dedication has shaped the Houston Ebony Opera Guild, reflecting their musical passions and lasting influence.
At the heart of this celebration is our founder, the late Dr. Robert A. Henry, a visionary leader with a profound love for opera and choral music. Dr. Henry was instrumental in establishing the Guild’s mission, and tonight’s program reflects his passion for beautiful singing, meticulous preparation, and making music accessible to all audiences.
Brenda Wimberly joins us from Shreveport, Louisiana to perform Love, Let the Wind Cry, an art song by Undine Smith Moore. I selected this piece for several reasons: Ms. Wimberly was among the talented young singers mentored by Dr. Henry at the Guild’s founding, and her voice was a favorite of Mary Marks Guillory, who served as Board Chair for more than 35 years until her passing in December 2023. Mary was a steadfast advocate, instrumental in securing HEOG’s 501(c)(3) status and elevating its professional standing.
Hold Fast to Dreams by Roland Carter was chosen in recognition of Carter’s significant contributions as a mentor to African American choral conductors, arrangers, and composers. A regular presence in HEOG’s programming for many years, he played a key role in establishing our reputation for excellent choral singing.
Another honoree is opera conductor Willie Waters, who conducted on the stages of New York City’s Metropolitan Opera and other world-class venues. He served as our guest conductor at Miller Outdoor Theatre for several seasons and founded our Young Artist Program, which has nurtured distinguished alumni such as Metropolitan Opera soloists Latonia Moore and Tammie Michelle Bradley. Bradley will soon sing the lead in Breaking the Waves at Houston Grand Opera. To honor Waters’ immense contributions to the Guild, we present Bella Figlia dell’amore by Giuseppe Verdi, performed by an outstanding cast of local artists, including Dorceal Duckens, a founding member of the Guild.
Mentorship and collaboration have been central to HEOG’s mission, and tonight we celebrate composer/pianist John Cornelius II and renowned Houston educator/conductor A. Jan Taylor. Both were mentored by Dr. Henry in various ways. Dr. Taylor, has frequently served as a choral conductor for the Guild and, following an illustrious career at Prairie View A&M University, now mentors a new generation of conductors nationwide.
We also honor Calvin Fuller, a distinguished local composer and organist whose works have been published by multiple houses. A longtime collaborator of Dr. Henry’s, he served as HEOG’s choral conductor for many seasons, preparing the chorus for numerous guest conductors. His work is represented on tonight’s program.
This milestone concert is more than a retrospective; it is a reaffirmation of HEOG’s enduring commitment to artistic excellence, mentorship, and cultural preservation. As we celebrate our past, we look forward to the future, ensuring that the Guild continues to provide opportunities for African American artists and to inspire audiences with the power of music. We are grateful for your support and presence this evening. May the legacy of the Houston Ebony Opera Guild continue to uplift, inspire, and shape the next generation of musicians and audiences alike. Thank you for being a part of this unforgettable milestone celebration.
Jason Oby, B.M., M.M., D.M.
Composer Biographies
Margaret Allison Bonds (1913–1972) was an American composer, pianist, arranger, and teacher. One of the first Black composers and performers to gain national recognition, she is best known for her arrangements of African American spirituals and her collaborations with Langston Hughes. Bonds made history as the first African American woman to perform with the all-White, all-male Chicago Symphony Orchestra, as well as the first African American woman to have her music broadcast on European radio and performed in Africa. She was also the second African American woman in classical music elected to full membership in ASCAP and the first woman—Black or White—to win three ASCAP awards.
Roland Carter is a distinguished composer, conductor, educator, and pianist. He was the Ruth S. Holmberg Professor of American Music at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and is a leading figure in choral music. Carter founded Mar-Vel, a publishing company specializing in African American music, and served as music advisor and principal guest conductor for the Houston Ebony Opera Guild. He conducted the Chattanooga Choral Society for 19 years and arranged Lift Every Voice and Sing, a hallmark of his compositional legacy. Carter’s work spans from presidential inaugurations to community choruses, and he has been honored by institutions such as Shaw University and Morehouse College.
John L. Cornelius II is a pianist, composer, and music director. A member of ASCAP and the American Federation of Musicians, he has composed works for orchestra, chamber ensembles, and lyric theater. Cornelius has collaborated with Michael J. Bobbitt on several theatrical productions, including Garfield: The Musical with Cattitude and Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds, both licensed through R&H Theatricals. He is also an Associate Professor at Prairie View A&M University.
William Levi Dawson (1899-1990) was born in Anniston, Alabama in 1899, the first of seven children born to Eliza Starkey Dawson and George W. Dawson. In 1912, he ran away from home to study music full-time as a pre-college student at the historically Black institution Tuskegee Institute (now University) under the tutelage of school president Booker T. Washington. Dawson paid his tuition by working as a music librarian and a manual laborer in the school’s Agricultural Division. He also participated as a member of Tuskegee’s choir, band and orchestra, playing several instruments, composing scores, and traveling with the Tuskegee Singers for five years. Dawson graduated from Tuskegee in 1921. In 1925, he received a Bachelor of Music in theory at the Horner Institute of Fine Arts in Kansas City, Missouri. He continued his education at the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago and graduated in 1927 with a master’s degree in composition. Additionally, Dawson studied composition and orchestration with Henry V. Stearns at Washburn College, counterpoint with Sir Carl Busch in Kansas City, and conducting with Felix Borowski at Chicago Musical College.
Calvin Fuller is an organist and music educator from Houston. He holds degrees from Texas Southern University, the University of Maryland, the University of Texas, and the University of Houston. Fuller is the organist/choirmaster at St. James Episcopal Church and a member of various musical organizations, including the American Guild of Organists. He is also a published composer, with works available from Paraclete Press and GIA Music Publishers.
Hall Johnson (1888–1970) was a pioneering African American choral director, composer, and violinist known for preserving Black spirituals. Founder of the Hall Johnson Choir, his arrangements became staples in the African American choral tradition. Johnson’s choir gained national acclaim in productions like Green Pastures (1930) and contributed to Hollywood films like Cabin in the Sky (1943) and Dumbo (1941). A mentor to artists such as Marian Anderson and Shirley Verrett, Johnson’s 1965 essay Notes on the Negro Spiritual solidified his legacy. He was posthumously honored by the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame and the Athens Music Walk of Fame.
Undine Eliza Anna Smith Moore (1904 – 1989), the “Dean of Black Women Composers”, was an American composer and professor of music in the twentieth century. Moore was originally trained as a classical pianist but developed a compositional output of mostly vocal music which was her preferred genre. Much of her work was inspired by African American Spirituals and folk music. Undine Smith Moore was a renowned teacher, and once stated that she experienced “teaching itself as an art”. She received many awards for her accomplishments as a music educator.
William Grant Still Jr. (1895–1978), known as the “Dean of Afro-American Composers,” was a pioneering American composer. He composed nearly 200 works, including five symphonies, nine operas, and numerous choral and chamber pieces. His Afro-American Symphony (1930) was the most widely performed American symphony until 1950. Still made history as the first African American to conduct a major U.S. orchestra and the first to have a symphony performed by a leading orchestra. His opera Troubled Island (1949) was the first by an African American performed by a major company, and in 1981, A Bayou Legend became the first such opera broadcast on national television.
Giuseppe Verdi (1813–1901) was a leading figure in 19th-century Italian opera. Known for works such as Rigoletto (1851), Il Trovatore (1853), La Traviata (1853), and Aida (1871), Verdi revolutionized opera with his emotionally expressive music and unforgettable melodies. His Requiem (1874) and later operas Otello (1887) and Falstaff (1893) remain pillars of the operatic canon.
Artist and Staff Biographies
Suzi (Suzanne) Byrd began her concert and opera career in her native Germany performing in church and concert music throughout Western Europe. She received a graduate degree in vocal pedagogy with a minor in Jazz from the Robert Schumann Musikhochschule, Master of Music in vocal performance from the University of Southern Mississippi and an Artist Certificate from Southern Methodist University. She continued concertizing throughout the US and Canada as well as serving multiple seasons as principal soloist for the Fort Worth Opera. Suzi enjoyed teaching voice at the University of Texas in Dallas and coaching professional singers in German vocal literature. She followed her calling into ministry, received a Master of Theology in Worship and Sacred Music and now serves as a hospital chaplain at Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital. Suzi expresses her gratitude to Dr Jason Oby who pulled her out of retirement (after over 40 years of performing) and invited her to join the HEOG, a truly humbling and life-giving experience.
Dorceal Duckens, the eighth of twelve children (six boys and six girls), was born in Rogers, Texas, and graduated from Dunbar Jr. Sr. High School in Temple, Texas. He went on to attend Prairie View A&M University, where he earned a B.A. in Vocal Performance and an M.A. in Music Education.
Mr. Duckens has performed both nationally and internationally, and he is a founding member of the Houston Ebony Opera Guild. Over the years, he has taken on many roles in numerous operas. Notably, he performed on Broadway with the Houston Grand Opera’s premiere production of Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha, which is currently available on YouTube. As a vocal technique instructor, one of Mr. Duckens’ most famous students is the world-renowned Beyoncé. He is also a member of the “Crescendos” and a charter line member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. (1970). He was among the first cohort of singers who performed in the Houston Ebony Opera Guild under Dr. Robert A. Henry. A devout Christian, Mr. Duckens often shares that all he has accomplished and all he will continue to offer comes by the grace of God.
Kenneth Gayle’s national credits include performances with: Lyric Opera of Chicago, Ravinia Music
Festival, Grant Park Music Festival, Seattle Opera, Seattle Symphony, Opera Omaha, Omaha Symphony,
Opera Idaho, Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival. A Seattle native and Houston resident, local performance credits include appearances with the Houston Ebony Opera Guild, Mukuru: Arts for AIDS Series, Three Mo’ Tenors and the Southwestern premier of the chamber opera Fragments from Augustine the Saint at Rothko Chapel. Recent appearances as a featured soloist include the New York City premier performance of John Cornelius’ PAX at Carnegie Hall with Apollo Chamber Players, and Mass in B Minor by J.S. Bach with Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival. Local producing/performance credits also include performances benefitting: The Houston Women’s Home, AIDS Foundation Houston, Legacy Community Services, The Montrose Counseling Center, The Parish School, Interfaith Ministries of Greater Houston, and many others.
Antoine Griggs is a distinguished baritone acclaimed for his performances in opera and concert music. A native of Detroit, Michigan, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Voice Performance from Morehouse College and a Master of Arts degree in Voice Performance from Georgia State University. Griggs has performed with the Houston Ebony Opera Guild and other local ensembles. He will join the music department at Texas Southern University as an adjunct voice professor in 2025.
Bernard Kelly is a talented tenor with a diverse range of vocal experiences. A graduate of the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston, Texas, he furthered his studies in vocal music at the University of Houston for three years. Bernard is currently studying under the guidance of Dr. Isabelle Ganz. One of his recent and notable opera performances include singing the role of Arturo in Lucia di Lammermoor with Opera in the Heights. In addition to his operatic and choral work, Bernard has achieved recognition in several vocal competitions. He earned first place in the 2021 Greater Houston NATS Adult Classical category and in the 2020 Beginning Adult Classical category, as well as second place in the 2022 Adult Classical competition. His performance experience extends beyond classical music. He has contributed as a background vocalist for national R&B and gospel artists and has performed recording session work for major clients. Kelly is a frequent soloist with the Houston Ebony Opera Guild.
Donyail Linsey is a member of Encore Theatre’s HALL OF FAME. He was formerly the Theatre Arts director at Wisdom High School. He earned the Bachelor of Arts in Theatre degree from Texas Southern University (Magna Cum Laude) and a Master of Arts degree from Texas A&M University, Commerce. As an actor, he has performed many roles including at the Encore Theatre where he performed in Behind Closed Doors, Spirits of the Mississippi River, The Boys Next Door, Equus, Stand, Fences, The Amen Corner, Three Blind Mice, Macbeth, Of Mice and Men, Oedipus the King and Native Son, just to name a few. Currently he is an instructor on the faculty of Texas Southern University and serves as the primary designer of sets for various theater productions.
Rolethial McKelvey is a Houston native who began piano studies at age four. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Sam Houston State University and has taught music at various institutions. McKelvey has worked as a music director for Rice University’s production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and as an accompanist for UIL performances. She currently serves as a consultant for the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston.
Gary Vincent Navy is a native of Beaumont, Texas and a 1982 graduate of La Marque high school. He attended East Texas State University (East Texas A&M University) and received a bachelor’s degree in vocal performance. His vocal background includes performances with the Houston Grand Opera, Barbara Tucker and A Chosen Few, and the Houston Ebony Opera Guild. Navy has directed several church choirs throughout the Galveston-Houston area. He is also the former director of the Galveston Heritage Choral which was founded by the late Izola Collins. Mr. Navy has performed in stage, plays and musicals. He is currently the fifth-grade choir teacher at Levi Fry intermediate school in Texas City.
Jason Oby has performed as a soloist in opera, oratorio, and recital at venues across the United States, Europe, and Asia. As a member of the acclaimed cast of Three Mo’ Tenors, he showcased a wide variety of musical genres, including opera, Broadway, jazz, and Motown. Known for his sensitivity and insightful interpretations as an art song singer, he has been invited to coach, plan, and direct multidisciplinary performances at museums, universities, and arts organizations nationwide. Currently, Dr. Oby is the Acting Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Behavioral Sciences at Texas Southern University, where he is also a Professor of Music. He previously served as the Chairman of the Department of Music and Interim Assistant Dean of the College. Oby earned B.M. and M.M. degrees from the Manhattan School of Music and a Doctor of Music (D.M.) degree from Florida State University. The Washington Post praised his singing, stating: “Special praise is in order for Jason Oby’s golden-toned solo work. His voice is accurate, flexible, and true… a real pleasure to listen to.” As the Artistic Director of the Houston Ebony Opera Guild (HEOG), he conceives, plans, and/or oversees all artistic content for the Guild’s season of choral and operatic performances. Oby remains active as a voice teacher, community lecturer, singer, and conductor, and serves on local and national boards and committees focused on grants, philanthropy, and the arts.
Julio Petersen III, born in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, began his musical journey in the fourth grade. A former lead vocalist in a reggae/calypso band, he also performed in original musicals with Broadway talents Lillias White and Timothy Graphenreed. After high school, Julio enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he won Military Idol in 2008 and performed in the Army Soldier Show. He later served in Iraq, leading a Gospel Choir and earning an Associate Degree in Business. In 2014, Julio founded the JPete Theatre Company in Houston and collaborated with local theater groups. He earned a Bachelor’s in Vocal Performance and Theatre from Texas Southern University in 2017 and was named “Beginning Teacher of the Year” in 2019. In 2020, he launched Mr. Pete’s Playhouse, a children’s YouTube channel that has since expanded to Roku TV and Amazon Fire TV. Julio is also the author of the Adventures of Khari children’s book series.
Ardeen Pierre, Haitian American soprano, has sung with Houston Grand Opera, Dallas Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, and more. Ms. Pierre premiered the role of Annie Turnbo Malone in the new opera Cook Shack with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis in 2023 and covered the role of Alice Ford with Santa Fe Opera. Ms. Pierre has won prizes with the Duncan Williams Vocal Competition, The Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, and was a finalist with the Houston Saengerbund Vocal Competition. Pierre holds a Performance Diploma from Southern Methodist University, a Master of Music from Rice University, and Bachelor of Music from Sam Houston State University. www.ardeenpierre.com
Jolie Rocke is a singer and music educator who has trained and provided performing opportunities for young artists for more than 30 years. Jolie draws from her total life experience when she takes the stage or works with aspiring artists. Her passion and unwavering dedication for music and the desire to pass it on to her students, leads her to write, produce, lead master classes, lecture, direct community arts programs, and train aspiring singers as a private voice teacher, coach, and mentor. She received a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Vocal Performance (University of Connecticut), Master of Early Childhood Education (Loyola College in Maryland), and Bachelor of Music (University of Hartford’s Hartt School). She has served on the faculties of San Jacinto College, Texas Southern University, Prairie View A&M University, Manchester Community College (CT), and the University of Connecticut. She is on the Texas Touring Roster Artist is currently Director of Music at First Unitarian Universalist Church of Houston, Co-Artistic Director of Driven Theater Company, Equity Arts Enterprises, and Owner of Rocke Vocal Studio. The native New Yorker and renowned soprano shares the gift of song across the world. She has performed as a featured soloist in opera and concert tours of the USA, Europe and Far North Queensland Australia. She was a young artist for two seasons with Houston Ebony Opera Guild. Recording projects include Rock of Ages: Hymns for the Soul; Jolie Rocke Brown in Concert and E’en So Lord Jesus Quickly Come.
A. Jan Taylor is an educator, pianist, singer, and choral conductor. She is the retired Director of Choral Music Activities at Prairie View A&M University, where she led her choirs to perform at prestigious events in the U.S. and abroad. Taylor holds degrees from the University of Houston and Prairie View A&M University and completed a Doctor of Musical Arts in choral conducting at the University of Houston. She is currently uniquely positioned as a nationally treasured and sought after mentor to a generation of choral conductors around the nation performing workshops and seminars at colleges, and academic conferences.
Leon Turner is a bass vocalist with a rich operatic and oratorio background. He has performed in major operas such as Madama Butterfly, Magic Flute, and Die Fledermaus. Turner is a winner of several prestigious awards, including regional Metropolitan Opera Auditions. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Northeast Louisiana University and a Master of Music from Southern Methodist University. Turner was an Instructor of Voice at Prairie View A&M University and currently is on the voice faculty at Southern Methodist University.
Brenda Wimberly is a versatile vocalist from Shreveport, Louisiana, whose career spans opera, oratorio, musical theater, jazz, and Negro spirituals. A graduate of Prairie View A&M University and the University of Michigan, Wimberly has performed internationally and served on music faculties at various universities. She specializes in African American art songs and composers. Wimberly has received many honors, including recognition as a “state treasure” by the Texas House of Representatives. She was a student of Dr. Robert A. Henry and was among the first cohort of singers in the HEOG.