Oral Moses, bass-baritone
performs regularly throughout the United States and Europe singing Opera,
Oratorio and recitals with special emphasis on a wide variety of art song
repertoire by African-American composers.
He has had numerous
successes with Opera companies performing major roles in Le Nozze de
Figaro, Regina, La Boheme, Albert Herring, Tremonisha, Rigoletto, and
Die Zauberflöte among many others. Symphonic engagements have included
works with the Nashville Symphony, the Jackson Symphony, Detroit Symphony,
Lansing Symphony, Tacoma Symphony and the Atlanta symphony. In 1983 he toured
Eastern Europe, Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Austria and Berlin singing
the role of Porgy in Porgy and Bess.
Born in South Carolina he began his singing career
as a member of the United States Seventh Army soldiers Chorus in Heidelberg,
Germany and as a member of the famed Fisk Jubilee singers while attending Fisk
University following his military career. Upon completion of his undergraduate
studies he was awarded a Thomas J. Watson fellowship, which provided him the
opportunity to return to Germany for further study in vocal performance and
Opera with Elsa Domberger. Upon his return to the United States he attended
the University of Michigan where he earned a Masters of Music and a Doctorate
of Musical Arts Degree in Vocal Performance and Opera.
In 1986 as a recipient of a National Endowment for
the Humanities Grant he co-authored a book entitled, Feel The Spirit-Studies
in Nineteenth Century Afro-American Music published by Greenwood Press. In
1991 he was awarded a second National Endowment for the Humanities Grant to
study the broad spectrum of American music.
As a solo recording
artist for Albany Records his premiere CD,
Deep River: Songs and
Spirituals of Harry T. Burleigh. is
featured in the PBS film documentary, Antonin Dvorak in America. His second
CD just recently released is, Amen!
African-American composers of the Twentieth Century. He has
collaborated with gospel artist, Babbie Mason on the CD/Video project,
Treasured Memories: A Celebration Of Our Gospel Music Heritage, documenting
the rich legacy of Gospel Music. A second CD collaboration entitled, Third
Day Offerings: A Worship Album, allowed him to record with Third Day, the
contemporary Christian rock group which earned him his first gold record.
In addition to future
concert and recital appearances he continues a busy schedule as guest lecturer
and clinician for Gospel and Spiritual music workshops and conferences
throughout the United States and Europe. He is Professor of Voice and Music
Literature at Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Georgia.
