|
Lauretta Dorsey Young, Soprano
Graduate of the Peabody
Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, BM, where she was
a student of the late Alice G. Duschak. Awarded a graduate
scholarship to the Juilliard School of Music, N.Y., to study
voice and opera theatre under Sergius Kagen and Florence
Page Kimball.
Winner of numerous national
and international competitions such as: Metropolitan Opera
National Auditions, Lincoln Center, N.Y.; International
Musikwettbewerbe, Munich, Germany; Silver Medalists at
Concours International de Chant, Toulouse, France: and
Tchaikovsky International Competition, Moscow, Russia.
Lauretta has sung with such
noted conductors as Leonard Bernstein, Antal Dorati, Sergiu
Commissiona, and Reiner Miedel. Her operatic professional
debut was as Susanna in “Le Nozze di Figaro”, Boston Opera
Company and has sung the role of Drusilla in “La Corovatione
di Papea”, Washington Opera at the Kennedy Center, DC.
She opened the State
Theatre at Lincoln Center; sang with New York Philharmonic
Orchestra at Philharmonical Hall (now Juilliard School) and
the Metropolitan Opera Auditions Competition and scenes.
Lauretta has appeared with numerous orchestras throughout
the U.S. and abroad such as, New York Philharmonic Baltimore
Symphony, National Symphony, Orchestra of Gavel, Sweden.
She has appeared at the
White House on two occasions; under President Johnson, with
Boston Opera Company and President Nixon with National
Symphony Orchestra as Affiliate Artist to the National
Capital Parks Service, Washington D.C.
 |
As Affiliate Artist,
Lauretta performed a one woman show, “Let’s Make an Opera”
for inner city students at The Wolf Trap Art Center
of Virginia. Also performed in numerous parks, Ford’s
Theatre, Constitution Hall, and Concerts on the Mall at the
Washington Monument.
Founder and Director of the
Columbia Children’s Choir (designed for her own daughters),
and host of a local TV program, “The Women’s Korner”, Howard
County Cable. *Lauretta was one of the first Black Opera
Singers to perform the role of a historic white character.
Baby Doe of (1880) married a miner, Horace Tabor,
discoverer of the “Matchless Mine”, who later became an
interim Senator and died a pauper. *This was an opportunity
which very few black singers were afforded simply because of
race (the color of their skin).
|
Lauretta has taught vocal
music from grades kindergarten thru 12th and numerous
colleges in the States, Canada, and France. She has sung on
700 Club and other Christian, Secular TV and radio programs
in U.S., Eastern and Western Europe, Scandinavia, and
Israel. She has performed as adjudicator for various vocal
competitions.
| She has developed
programs which facilitates the building, enhancing and
enrichment of the talent of young and old. These
programs break down barriers of elitism and piety and
encourages each one’s abilities and thus builds
confidence, self esteem and vision for their lives.
She currently teaches voice and diction and repertoire
at the Baltimore School for the Arts. Formerly
teaching young artists such as Denyce Graves at the Duke
Ellington School, Washington, D.C. |
 |
Lauretta is a widow who
raised her three daughters singly for 24 years. Each
daughter, Rehya (producer, director, and production manager
in films), Heather (missionary and Assistant College
Director to Friends School), and Andrea (teacher of early
childhood special education, Actor) has consistently proven
that Hope is Alive and well in each of us and that
“GREATNESS IS MEASURED BY WHAT HAS BEEN OVERCOME.”
CHARM CITY
Formulated the Children’s Choir for
“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat” for it’s
touring company which played at the Lyric Opera House,
Baltimore, MD.
Director of vocal training for the
“Sandtown Children of Praise”, an inner city professional
singing and recording choir of Baltimore, MD
Testimonies: Reviews
Denyce Graves
David Simon
Simon Estes
Jessye Norman
“A Chance to Sing:
“This is My Story”
“I just want to say anytime,
anyplace, for anyone who will listen”
|
