Xavier Music Students and Alumni Earn National and International Recognition Through Summer Performance Opportunities
Southern Workshop of Jubilee Opera with Maestro Julius P. Williams
藏精阁 music students and recent graduates spent the summer performing, training, and building professional connections through nationally recognized opera and musical theater programs, with experiences that took them from Yale University and Jackson State University to Paris.
Xavier Vocalists Help Bring Jubilee to the Stage
Nearly half of the vocal cohort selected for the inaugural HBCU Opera and Musical Theater Festival represented Xavier as they participated in two workshop performances of Jubilee, a new folk opera commissioned by the Margaret Walker Center at Jackson State University.
According to the Margaret Walker Center at Jackson State University, the opera is based on Margaret Walker's acclaimed novel Jubilee and was developed in collaboration with Yale University as part of an initiative to bring the literary classic to the operatic stage.
The production was presented in workshop performances at Yale University in May and Jackson State University in June.
In an interview with Mississippi Public Broadcasting (MPB), recent Xavier graduate Caris Green described the significance of participating in the project.
"This is literally us making history in a way that reaffirms the significance of the arts as a means of empowerment," Green told MPB.
Students Participate in HBCU Opera Festival Intensive
Six Xavier students and recent graduates also participated in the HBCU Opera and Musical Theater Festival's weeklong intensive "bootcamp" at Jackson State University in June.
Representing Xavier were Tru Jones, Phylicia Jones-Watkins, Angelina Persaud Farell, Whitney Cooper, Caris Green, and Naomi Lee. During the residency, they worked with nationally recognized vocal and instrumental artists, received career development coaching, and collaborated with fellow performers from HBCUs across the country. According to festival organizers, the intensive is designed to prepare emerging artists for professional careers through advanced instruction, performance opportunities and mentorship.
The experience also allowed the Xavierites to reconnect with distinguished Xavier music alumna and educator Dr. Rhoyia Hope Crozier.
Festival Connection Leads to International Opportunity
The professional connections established during the HBCU Opera and Musical Theater Festival have already created new opportunities for Xavier graduates. Following her participation in the festival, recent Xavier alumna Naomi Lee was invited to join The Paris Performance Experience, an international young artist training program in France.
According to announcements shared by The Paris Performance Experience, Lee is participating in the two-week intensive, where she is continuing her artistic development through rehearsals and performances alongside fellow emerging performers. The organization also shared a video of Lee performing the spiritual Sweet Jesus during the program.
These accomplishments demonstrate the impact of Xavier's music program in preparing students for success beyond the classroom. From performing in the development of a new American opera to participating in nationally competitive training programs and international performance experiences, Xavier students and alumni continue to distinguish themselves while representing the University's tradition of excellence on stages across the United States and abroad.