WSSU Singing Rams | Vision & Purpose LifeStyle Magazine January/February 2022

WSSU SINGING RAMS

Dr. Sharon H . Porter

The Winston-Salem State University Choir (aka WSSU Singing Rams) is the oldest student organization on the campus of Winston-Salem State University. There is evidence to prove that the institution of the choir predates the Department of Music, of which it is now a part. The University Choir is now under the leadership and baton of Maestra D'Walla Simmons Burke. This University Choir has performed commissioned works, such as On Imagination and I Too (Undine Smith Moore), Recent Reflections on Deep River (Michael Williams), Come Sunday (arr. S. Van Dixon), Hold On and Oh, What a Beautiful City (arr. Stacey Gibbs), to name a few. Under the leadership of Maestra Simmons-Burke, The Winston-Salem State University Choir has traveled both nationally and internationally (Bahamas; Czech Republic and South Africa to name a few) recording and performing with professional ensembles and major symphony orchestras such as the American Spiritual Ensemble; Winston-Salem Symphony Orchestra; Gateways Festival Orchestra; D'Vorak Symphony Orchestra; Colour of Music Symphony Orchestra; and the New England Symphony Orchestra when major works are programmed (Bernstein’s Mass; Berlioz’s Te Deum; Mozart’s Requiem; Handel’s Messiah; Fauré’s Requiem; Haydn's Creation; Verdi's Requiem and Te Deum; Rossini’s Stabat Mater; and Forrest’s In Paradisum).

Currently, The Winston-Salem State University Choir has recorded 12 compact disks under Maestra Simmons-Burke’s leadership (CDs - Joy to the World; In Silent Night; I Wanna Be Ready; Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing; Hold Fast To Dreams; Somewhere Far Away; The Legacy Continues: 20th Anniversary Celebration of D'Walla Simmons-Burke; My God is a Rock; The Gift Peace; Stony the Road We Trod… Lifting Our Voices - Celebrating the Music of Dr. Roland M. Carter and Sing Down Justice: Songs of Life, Hope and Justice) with one of them - Somewhere Far Away recorded in Prague, Czech Republic and published by a major recording label (Albany Records). This same compact disk was also nominated in 5 categories of the classical genre for a Grammy. The choir has performed for several major music conferences as the featured guest and has also performed on many national stages such as Carnegie Hall/Lincoln Center (New York) and the Kennedy Center (Washington, DC). The Winston-Salem State University Choir was one of the featured ensembles on the Lincoln Center stage to debut Rosephanye Powell’s Cry of Jeremiah. It was also one of the only university choirs from North Carolina’s sixteen (16) state institutions invited to perform during the festivities of the inauguration of former Governor James B. Hunt. This choir has been an ambassador for the university both nationally and internationally since its beginnings. The Grammy-nominated Winston-Salem State University Choir has traveled and performed under the leadership of Maestra D’Walla Simmons-Burke since 1989 and is well sought after for its moving renditions of major choral works, spirituals, and world music.

The Burke Singers

The Burke Singers are a female a cappella vocal ensemble founded on the campus of Winston-Salem State University, March, 1995 by D'Walla Simmons Burke, Director of Choirs and Vocal Studies. D'Walla saw a need to add variety, emotion and a since of political awareness to the choral program and to the city of Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

The songs performed by the Burke Singers display a variety of African-American sacred music, African and American civil rights support songs, and world political awareness songs. Most of the music rendered by the Burke Singers are those sung by SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK and written/arranged by Bernice Johnson Reagan, founder of this world renowned vocal ensemble.

In its brief existence, many community and university groups such as arts council board meetings, book clubs, church services, civic organizational banquets, public schools, and inaugural ceremonies of universities have solicited the Burke Singers to perform and “tell the story”. The Burke Singers were invited in March, 1997 as one of the featured guests, to perform at the National Black Music Caucus’ 25th Anniversary Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. The theme of the conference was "A Celebration of African- American Music". Kweisi Mfume (NAACP) has identified this ensemble as "a spiritually uplifting story-teller and a powerful African-American female ensemble of unique harmonies." The members of this ensemble bring with them such diverse backgrounds as elementary education, early childhood education, biology, music business, mass media communications, nursing and accounting. Susan Taylor (Essence Magazine Editor) has described them as “strong women with a strong message". The Burke Singers are more than just a vocal ensemble. Our songs, sounds and lyrics give the listener a different way to hear the songs of old, a new way.

Winston-Salem State University Schola Cantorum

The Winston-Salem State University Men are a male ensemble which gives special attention to the performance of African American composers and standard male glee club literature. This ensemble began as a request of the male students within The Winston-Salem State University Choir. Their humble beginnings have led them to perform for formal university convocations and spring tours within the United States.

The University Men embrace a rich choral music tradition of its university. The members seek to provided dedication, commitment and leadership through the performance of music. Since its origins (2004), it has had one director, Maestra D’Walla Simmons Burke, Director of Choral and Vocal Studies. It is the mission of the Winston-Salem State University Men to provide a standard of excellence and distinction through singing and modeling the ultimate Winston-Salem State University MAN.

Winston-Salem State University Singing Divas

The Winston-Salem State University Singing Divas are a female ensemble which gives special attention to the performance of African American composers and standard female glee club literature. This ensemble began as a request of the female students within The Winston-Salem State University Choir. Their humble beginnings have led them to perform for formal university convocations and spring tours within the United States.

Winston-Salem State University Singing Divas origins (1998), has had one director, Maestra D’Walla Simmons Burke, Director of Choral and Vocal Studies. It is the mission of the Winston-Salem State University Singing Divas to provide a standard of excellence and distinction through singing and modeling the ultimate Winston-Salem State University WOMAN.

Meet Mrs. Renee Matthews Jones

Mrs. Renee Matthews Jones , one of Maestra Simmons-Burke’s first Singing Ram students is a public school music educator in Forsyth County and has created award-winning middle and high school choirs. Mrs. Jones’ choirs have also performed and recorded with the Winston- Salem State University Singing Rams (Sing Down Justice: Songs of Life, Hope and Justice). Renee Matthews Jones is a native of Staley, NC. She was educated in the public school system of Randolph County and is a proud graduate of Winston-Salem State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education with a concentration in voice.

During her time at Winston-Salem State University, she was a member of the nationally-renowned Winston-Salem State University Choir under the most capable baton of Maestra D’Walla Simmons-Burke. Later, she served as Assistant Director of the Choir, composing and arranging for the Choir as well as the illustrious Burke Singers. Mrs. Jones began her public school teaching career with the Downtown Middle School as the general music and chorus educator. She transitioned to the Winston- Salem Forsyth County School System at Kimberley Park and Cook Elementary Schools. While there, her choruses were highly sought after, performing frequently for the former Superintendent, Dr. Donald Martin as well as events for principals and visiting local and state dignitaries. These groups also earned superior ratings at choral adjudicated festivals.

In August of 2013, Ms. Matthews began teaching middle and high school chorus at Winston-Salem Preparatory Academy. Under her direction, the choruses have flourished as she founded 3 choral groups (WSPA Ladies' Ensemble, Men's Ensemble and the Advanced Mixed Ensemble). These ensembles are known for presenting a diverse array of classic choral literature as well as powerful renditions of spirituals, gospel and South African choral pieces. Mrs. Jones is also the Minister of Music at Oliver’s Chapel AME Zion Church in Staley, NC and the Director of the Durham District Youth Choir of the Central North Carolina AME Zion Conference. She is the mother of two children (Sean and Kayla) and a proud grandmother of two.

Meet Thomas Beard

Mr. Beard is a 1998 graduate of Winston-Salem State University, under the tutelage of Maestra D’Walla Simmons-Burke within as an applied voice student. Thomas Beard is a lyricdramatic baritone who enjoys a national and international reputation. In 2003 he became the only African-American male singer to be chosen personally by Maestro Placido Domingo to be part of the Washington National Opera's Placido Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program, working directly under the Maestro's tutelage. As a member of The Washington National Opera, he performed over 90 times, including in its tour of Japan. He has appeared in productions of Orff's Carmina Burana, Händel's Messiah, Verdi's Missa da Requiem, Fauré's Requiem, Dett's the Ordering of Moses, Pergolesi's Magnificat, and Dubois' The Seven Last Words of Christ.

Mr. Beard made his operatic début as the Bonze in the Municipal Opera Company of Baltimore's production of Madam Butterfly. He appeared with the Pittsburgh Opera Theatre in the world premiere of the Jazzopera Just Above My Head, and debuted with the International Opera of Rome as Colline (La Boheme), as Corporal Morrell in Carmen Jones at the Kennedy Center in 2002, and in the title role of Verdi’s Rigoletto in 2005. Mr. Beard has also performed in Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Spain, and Germany. Between 2011 and 2015, he appeared as guest soloist on CNN and FOX; performed at a Patriot Day Celebration with the VA Medical Chorale & Symphony Orchestra; and debuted with Queen Anne's Choral Society in Brahms’s Requiem, with The Easton Choral Society in the Seven Last Words of Christ, with the Riverbend Opera as Gerard in Giordano's Andrea Chenier, and with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra in Porgy & Bess. Mr. Beard has performed for numerous dignitaries, including senators, governors, and ambassadors in concerts across the country. He was invited to perform as special guest soloist at the White House by former First Lady Laura Bush, and in 2005, performed at the funeral services for Rosa Parks, mother of the Civil Rights Movement.

Meet Kenneth Overton

Kenneth Overton is lauded for blending his opulent baritone with magnetic, varied portrayals that seemingly “emanate from deep within body and soul.” Kenneth Overton’s symphonious baritone voice has sent him around the globe, making him one of the most sought-after opera singers of his generation.

Kenneth is a GRAMMY™ AWARD WINNER for Best Choral Performance in the title role of Richard Danielpour’s The Passion of Yeshua with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus, conducted by JoAnn Falletta, awarded at the 63rd Grammy Awards, Year 2020.

Kenneth had his Metropolitan Opera debut in the Fall of 2021 as Lawyer Frazier in Porgy and Bess, a reprisal of the role of Ralph Abernathy in I Dream with Opera Carolina and Charlottesville Opera, and Germont in La Traviata for his stage debut with Fort Worth Opera. He will also appear with the National Philharmonic as a soloist in Mozart’s Requiem as well as the World Premier of Adolphus Hailstork’s A Knee on the Neck, a solo recital at The Quick Center for the Arts at St. Bonaventure University, Fort Worth Opera’s Gala Concert, and will debut Damien Geter’s An African American Requiem with the Oregon Symphony/Resonance Ensemble.

Previous engagements include Amonasro in Aida with Boheme Opera, a return to The New York City Opera performing the role of Jake Wallace in Puccini’s La Fanciulla del West, and Sharpless in Madama Butterfly for Opera Idaho. Additionally, Kenneth thrived in his Hungarian debut as the title role in Porgy and Bess in the Margaret Island Open Air Theatre’s production where he was heralded as one of “America’s most renowned Opera singers.”

Pride and tradition portray the motif of Kenneth’s debut solo album Been In De Storm So Long: Songs My Fathers Taught Me, his homage to the spiritual tradition that has been formative in his artistic life. Pianist Kevin Miller and Kenneth’s collaboration embody the historic Spirituals from our past and contemporary art songs by African American Composers, giving them a new life of their own. Another profound collaboration is when Grammy winner – Kenneth Overton and Grammy-nominated Winston-Salem State University Singing Rams under the direction of Maestra D’Walla Simmons-Burke, recorded “There’s a Man Goin’ Round Takin’ Names” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awcRNRgS8LA). Amidst performing, Kenneth served as co-founder and artistic director of Opera Noire of New York for over a decade, a performing arts organization created to empower African-American artists to reach their full creative potential in a creative supportive environment. He hails from Philadelphia.

Meet Nia Lewis-Lattimore

Nia Lewis-Lattimore is a Professional Artist and Minister of Music (Mercy Hill – Greensboro). She is a 2019 WSSU Graduate (Music Business Major/Voice Principle) – Maestra Simmons-Burke’s Applied Voice Student/Burke Singer Alumna

Meet Brittany Headen

Brittany Headen, 2021 WSSU Graduate (Music Business/Voice Principle)/Burke Singer Alumna. Ms. Headen is currently a Masters studentat The University of Arkansas (Vocal Performance)

About Maestra D'Walla Simmons-Burke

Maestra D'Walla Simmons-Burke is the Director of Choral and Vocal Studies and founder of three of the five choral ensembles currently existing within the Department of Music at Winston-Salem State University (Winston-Salem State University Singing Divas; Complesso Voce’ and the renowned Burke Singers). The fourth choral ensemble is - the Grammy-nominated Winston-Salem State University Choir (aka WSSU Singing Rams) is one of the first student organizations founded at the university. Her choirs have performed with the Winston-Salem Symphony Orchestra, D’Vorak Symphony Orchestra, Colour of Music Festival Symphony Orchestra and the New England Symphony Orchestra and is well sought after for its performances of master choral works (i.e… Haydn's Creation; Handel's Messiah; Faure’s Requiem; Bernstein’s Mass; Rossini’s Stabat Mater; Orff's Carmina Burana; Mozart's Requiem; Berlioz’s Te Deum, etc…), spirituals and world music. Her choirs have performed on national stages such as Carnegie Hall and the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. Maestra Simmons-Burke has also performed internationally with her choral ensembles and as a guest conductor/lecturer (Prague, Czech Republic; Nassau, Bahamas; Accra, Cape Coast & Kumasi, Ghana - West Africa; and Pilanesberg, Cape Town and Johannesburg – South Africa). She was named one of the national conductors for the 105 Voices of History Concert Choir at the John F. Kennedy Performing Arts Center and in Nassau, Bahamas. Simmons- Burke was also the national choral coordinator and one of three national conductors who lead the 105 Voices of History Concert Choir in their inaugural performance at the Grand Ole Opry.

Under Simmons-Burke's baton, her choral ensembles have performed for and/or with such regional, national and international dignitaries as Maria Howell; President George W. Bush; Keisi Mfume; Susan Taylor; Governor James Hunt(former NC Governor); Maya Angelou; Dick Gregory; Patti Austin; Harry Belafonté; Madame President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia and Pope John Paul II, to name a few. Her exceptional and diverse vocal and choral pedagogies are continuously demonstrated through the outstanding students she has produced. As a result, Simmons-Burke has been the recipient of several teaching awards such as the Winston-Salem State University Patterson Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award, Winston-Salem State University Cedric Rodney Service Award and The John F. Kennedy Center for The Performing Arts 105 Voices of History National Conductor's Award. She is also the recipient of many community service and performance awards for her national achievements in music and research. Maestra Simmons-Burke is listed in Outstanding Young Women of America and has held memberships in many other organizations such as the Music Educators National Conference; the American Choral Directors Association; the National Association of African American Studies; the National Association for the Study and Performance of African-American Music; National Association of Negro Musicians; The Intercollegiate Music Association; the National Associations for African American, Asian, Hispanic, and Latino Studies; Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., The Moles, and The Links, Inc.

Simmons-Burke has performed leading roles in such operas as Lost in the Stars; LaTraviata, Amahl and the Night Visitors; The Telephone; The Old Maid and the Thief and has also made numerous guest appearances as a conductor and adjudicator for high and middle school All-State/All- County festivals and collegiate choral festivals/workshops. She is often sought after as a choral music clinician/lecturer/conductor. Recently, D’Walla has been appointed the professional musical consultant of the vocal ensemble – Stacey V. Gibbs and Just Music.

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