Motherless Child ARTIST BIO

Rosephanye Dunn Powell (pronounced ro-SE-fuh-nee) is a native of Lanett, Alabama. During childhood, Rosephanye began piano lessons and later served as substitute accompanist for her church choir at Hall Memorial C.M.E. Church in Valley, Alabama. Although more active in sports, such as basketball and track during the junior high and high school years, Rosephanye played the saxophone in the West Point High School marching and concert bands, and sang soprano in the school choir and women’s quartet. During her sophomore year in high school, Rosephanye and three friends formed a gospel quartet, Inspiration, and began singing at churches and local events. These musical experiences were pivotal in her decision to pursue a major in music at Alabama State University (ASU) in Montgomery, Alabama. After obtaining the Bachelor of Music Education degree (summa cum laude) from ASU, Rosephanye pursued and obtained the Master’s Degree in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy (with distinction) from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey.

From 1987-1990, Rosephanye served on the music faculty of Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Georgia. She married William C. Powell, a pianist, choral conductor, and arranger whom she met while a student at ASU. From 1990-1993, Rosephanye and William studied at The Florida State University, obtaining the Doctor of Music in Vocal Performance (university fellow) and PhD in Music Education, choral emphasis, respectively. In 1993, the husband and wife team assumed faculty positions at Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Arkansas. Dr. William Powell served as Director of Choral Activities, while Rosephanye taught voice and, in time, acquired the position of Chair of the Music Department.

In 2001, the Powell’s accepted their present positions at Auburn University. Rosephanye serves as a Coordinator of Vocal Studies, teaching courses in applied voice, diction, vocal literature and vocal pedagogy, while William serves as Director of Choral Activities. The couple resides in Auburn and has two young children, Camille Elise and Kaitlyn Elizabeth. Rosephanye is a nationally-recognized composer and arranger of classical choral music and African-American spirituals. Since 1996, her works have been published by major choral music publishers, including Gentry Publications, the Hal Leonard Corporation, Alliance Music, Shawnee Press, and Oxford Music. As an artist-educator, she has traveled around the country presenting recitals, lecture-recitals, concerts, presentations, and workshops on the African-American spiritual and slavery.

Rosephanye first heard spirituals sung and hummed by her grandmothers. In addition, they were a part of the musical diet of her church and school choirs. She believes that these classics, which were at the heart of the slave community and Civil Rights Movement, are a precious legacy that should be passed on to future generations. This, of course, is the impetus for her project Motherless Chil’, arranged, produced, narrated and performed by the artist.