Jackson Advocate

Eva Jessye Choir Coming To Campbell College
The Eva Jessye American Concert Ensemble will appear at 8 p.m. Tuesday, February 21, at Campbell College.
"One of the Great American Institutions" is the way Jacque Wolfe, noted American composer, has proclaimed Eva Jessye's musical creations. Her singers have appeared with leading symphony orchestras under the direction of such famed conductors as Stokowski, Ormandy, Smallens, Black Mitropoulos, Steinberg, Hugh Ross, and were the first to interpret the scores of "Four Saints in Three Acts" opera by Gertrude Stein and Virgil Thomson, and folk opera, "Porgy and Bess," by DuBose Heyward and the immortal George Gershwin, of which she was choral director.
Miss Jessye has been coaching ensembles and choral groups since 12 years of age, and has been responsible for the discovery and development of many of today's top flight artists in concert and operatic fields. Among these are the celebrated Lawrence Winters, of the New York City Center Opera, and Helen Dowdy and Ray Yeates, featured in the production of "Porgy and Bess."
Now after a quarter century of prominence on the Broadway scene as concert conductor, dramatist, authority on American music, composer and interpreter of modern idioms, she is bringing her priceless experience and talents to the public with her American Concert Ensemble. In forming this group, she has relied on the several separate factors which have attributed to her phenomenal success. Each singer, for instance, is selected not only for vocal qualifications, but for imagination, originality and dramatic expression. Each must provide a distinct color for the vocal canvas. One is valuable for ability to project the humorous, another for deeply religious feeling, another for down to earth expression, others for hearty, neighborly vocal tone, light modern or heavy jazz interpretation. All are then utilized to the best interests of the presentation, so that a perfect balance is maintained ... one of variety, simplicity, with touches of sophistication where required . and with unfailing good taste at all times.
The Eva Jessye Singers have been acclaimed from coast to coast.
They truly bring the variety that is the spice of life.
Admission $1.00; $1.50 at door.