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“Classical Music Filled the Air” -
Local Vocal Arts Competition for Emerging Artists
Sponsored by the Toledo Club
and the Maumee Bay Club of the NANBPWC, Inc.
Featuring Nnenne Edeh,
Soprano
By Barbara Tucker
Special to The Truth
On Sunday, April 19, 2015 classical music
filled the air as the Toledo Club and the Maumee Bay Club of
the National Association of Negro Business and Professional
Women’s Clubs, Inc. (NANBPWC, Inc.) joined in a partnership
to sponsor the Vocal Arts Competition for Emerging Artists.
The program was held at the St. Paul Missionary Baptist
Church.
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The Vocal Arts Competition for Emerging
Artists is the signature program of the NANBPWC, Inc.
established in 1982 under the leadership of Past National
President Mary E. Singletary. The purpose was to provide a
competitive arena for talented young vocal artists of
African-American heritage to showcase and demonstrate their
artistic abilities in classical vocal performance as well as
assist them with music scholarships. Scholarships are
awarded on the National Level as follows: $2000.00 for
First Place, $1000.00 for Second Place, $500.00 for Third
Place and $300.00 for remaining contestants.
This year’s competition presented Nnenne Edeh,
a soprano who is a junior studying Music Education at the
University of Toledo. Her voice teacher is Micah Graber.
Edeh performed selections from a repertoire consisting of an
aria from a major opera, an Oratorio Cantata, a German Lied,
a French Melodie and a Negro Spiritual or work by an
African-American composer.
Her accompanist was Robert Ballinger, who is
widely known to audiences throughout the area as a
conductor, solo pianist, chamber musician,
accompanist/coach, lecturer, adjudicator and violist. The
interlude entertainment was provided by the Total Praise
Dance Ministry from St. Paul MBC.
Edeh was adjudicated by Minister Joyce Rush,
and Joan Simonis, PhD, who are both renown in the Toledo
area for their music expertise. After being adjudicated and
certified as qualified, Edeh will advance to the 50th
North Central District Conference Vocal Arts Competition to
be held on May 15, 2015 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in
Detroit, Michigan. If successful there, she will represent
the North Central District of the NANBPWC, Inc. at the
National Convention in New York, NY in July 2015..
The Steering Committee was composed of the
following members from the two collaborating clubs.
The Maumee Bay Club was represented by
Gwendolyn Wilson-Banks, president; Linda Collins, first vice
president; Trevor Black, second vice president and Pattie
Poston. The Toledo Club was represented by Barbara Tucker,
chairman; Denise Black-Poon, president; Wanda Terrell first
vice president; Frances Collins, EdD; second vice president;
Lillie Watkins and BJ Tucker. Toledo Youth Club members Jada
and Jordan Collins served as escorts for the contestant,
accompanist and program participants.
The Maumee Bay Club and the Toledo Club both
actively perform services to benefit the community under the
umbrella of the national program mandates: LETS: Leadership,
Entrepreneurship, Technology and Service that encompasses
the areas of Health, Education, Employment, Economic
Development, Founders’ Day and Women’s History. In April
2015, the Maumee Bay Club took a group of local high school
students on its Annual Black College Tour. In March 2015,
The Toledo Club celebrated it annual Founders’ Day and
Women’s History Program honoring women in the military. The
Toledo Club held various activities and programs leading up
to its 50th Golden Debutante Cotillion on May 23, 2015, 8:00
at The Great Hall at the Stranahan Theater.
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