Fox Cities News

Acclaimed opera soprano Maria Clark recently engaged students in the Oshkosh Area School District with a two-day residency focused on African American spirituals. This initiative, held on December 2 and 3, was supported by ArtsCore, the SOAR grant, and the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (UWO) music department. The program titled "The African American Spiritual Experience" included vocal masterclasses and cultural discussions.

Dr. Phong Nguyen, choir director at Vel Phillips Middle School and UWO lecturer, organized this opportunity after meeting Ms. Clark during his undergraduate studies at Georgia State University. He noted that her vocal talents and discussions about music were inspiring.

Ms. Clark's career includes success as both a classical singer and an African American spiritual vocalist. She has received awards from musical organizations and co-produced an album titled "Soul Sanctuary: Spirituals & Hymns." Currently teaching at Emory University in Atlanta, GA, she previously coordinated applied lessons and vocal studies at Spelman College.

The residency featured masterclasses for Vel Phillips and Oshkosh North choir students and cultural discussions with Black Student Unions (BSUs) from several schools. During these sessions, Ms. Clark shared the history of African American spirituals.

"Spirituals have helped us to get through life and helped us to get through adversity in many situations throughout history," said Ms. Clark.

Students performed spirituals for Ms. Clark, including "Elijah Rock" arranged by Jester Hairston and "Keep Your Lamps" arranged by Andre Thompson at Vel Phillips Middle School. At Oshkosh North High School, they performed "Battle of Jericho" arranged by Moses Hogan.

"I loved singing 'Keep Your Lamps' because the harmonies sounded amazing," said Wren, an eighth-grade choir student at Vel Phillips.

Ms. Clark provided feedback on performances, encouraging students to connect emotionally with the songs.

Reflecting on the experience, Dr. Nguyen observed significant improvement in student performances: "They are adding flavor and soul to their sound."

Beyond music instruction, Ms. Clark met with BSU members to discuss her career journey as a Black vocal performance professional.

"Hearing Ms. Clark’s experience did affect how I look towards the future," said Eyragence, an eighth-grade student involved in both BSU and choir activities.

Ms. Clark expressed her hopes for students: "I hope that students take away that they can do anything in life that they set their minds to."

The series concluded with a final masterclass with the Oshkosh Chamber Singers at UWO and a public recital featuring songs from Ms. Clark’s album.

Dr. Nguyen praised participating students: "They exceeded my expectations showing dedication, integrity, and a thirst for knowledge."

The Oshkosh Area School District expressed gratitude to all involved parties for making this enriching experience possible for students.