During the last holiday season, The Nubian Conservatory of Music held their annual concert at the historic Siloam Presbyterian Church.
On December 8, 2019, young music students led with piano and vocal recitals. Although, these students are at various stages of development there were several outstanding performances. Namely, Kayene Lelitte on the piano, who had the audience on their feet after completing Minuet Number 1 in G Major by J.S. Bach.
Third year piano student, Mikyah Muller, displayed many hours of intense training when she played “Cycles” by J.W. Schuam. It was a musical delight.
The Nubian professionals took the helm after the students. A young veteran to the operatic world, Baritone Ricky Brackett, was truly outstanding as usual, and sung two selections – Largo al factotum della (from the Barber of Seville), and Let the Heb’n Light Shine on Me. Yet another fine solo performance was W.A. Mozart’s Parto, ma to ben mio (from “La Clemenza Di Tito”) sung by Mezzo-Sorprano Shawn Farrar.
The third and final portion of the concert featured the movements from “Theodora” by G.F. Handel. As the program notes and Nubian President E. Harrison Gordon explained, this is a tragic love story. The entire oratorio lasts about three hours. Given the time and monetary restraints, the concert choir was able to convey the emotions amazingly well.
The president of the Friends of the Nubian Conservatory of Music, Carolyn Jenkins, thanked the audience for their continued support. She asked that music lessons be given to relatives and friends at this time of year. Jenkins gave her niece piano lessons several years ago at Christmas to get her started and now her niece has been interviewed by Ernie Anastos of FOX news.
Prominent Nubian supporters were in the audience. Professor Glen McMillan is the Minister of Music at Concord Baptist Church of Christ and Professor of Music at Medgar Evers College. McMillan said that given the quality of the performances, we felt the church should have been packed to the rafters.
Karnisha Superville is an events planner and member of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce. She spoke briefly about having worked on the concert and hopes to do more in the future. Superville provided refreshments during the intermission.
For information on the Nubian Conservatory, go to www.nubianconservatoryofmusic.org and Email: [email protected]
