Charsie Sawyer
Dr. Charsie Sawyer
Office: Timmer Hall Rm #27
Phone: (616) 526-6823
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Biographical Information
Charsie Randolph Sawyer is a very versatile, exciting and gifted soprano. Dr. Sawyer is a professor of music at Calvin College where she teaches applied voice, American Music, Music Theater/Opera Workshop and Gospel Choir. Prior to her arrival there, she taught at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Lincoln University, (Mo) Salisbury Conservatory, (NC) Western Michigan University, and Hope College, (MI) and Reformed Bible College, (MI). Dr. Sawyer is active in the ongoing research on the music of African-American composers. She has a special interest in the music of women composers from within this group. She was awarded a McGregor Fellowship Grant (2005) to continue work on a book she is compiling of African-American Women Classical Composers. She has been bringing this music to national and international audiences through her recording and performance activities. She is often invited to conduct choral clinics on music of African-Americans. She has conducted clinics in Ontario (Canada), Nebraska, Iowa, New Jersey, Virginia, Ohio, Illinois and throughout Michigan. Ms. Sawyer has many solo performances to her credit with orchestra, oratorio, opera, choir and recital in the United States, Europe and the United Kingdom.
In January, 2000 she released a solo CD entitled “The Unknown Flower” Song Cycles by American Women Composers. She has been featured on three other CD’s “Fare Ye Well,” “Art Songs by Black American Composers,” and most recent “Religious Music for Voice and Piano by Lettie Beckon Alston” in (2006). As a conductor/instructor an “Instructional DVD for Gospel Choirs” (2007). “Resurrection Power” DVD with the Calvin College Gospel Choir (2006) and a September 2007 CD release of “Then Sings My Soul” Celebration 10 years with the Calvin Gospel Choir.
In 2007 her performance included a solo recital of women composers for the Grand Rapids Women’s City Club; the soprano solos in the Mendelssohn St. Paul with the Calvin Oratorio Society, a performance at the Alliance Art Song Festival at the University of California in Irvine. Dr. Sawyer was also a Clinician at the Hampton Ministers and Organist Guild, Hampton, Virginia; First Presbyterian Church in St. Claire, New Jersey; Afro-Women Preachers and Worship Leaders Consultation at Calvin College. In 2006 she was contracted for a return performance as soloist with Jonathan Wilcox, conducting his ballet “Snow White” with the Grand Rapids Ballet, Missa Criolla by Ariel Ramirez and Benedicite by Ralph Vaughn Williams with the Harbor Choral Festival. In 2005, her professional performances include concerts of Latin American Art Songs and guest soloist with the Grand Rapids Cantata Choir’s From Vienna to Rio performing Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass, Manuel Garcia’s Laudaute Pueri, and a United States premier of José Joaquim da Paixão’s Moteto O Vere Christe. Sawyer performed Fanshawe’s African Sanctus with the Harbor Choral Festival under conductor Jonathan Wilcox and was featured recitalist at the International Symposium and Festival on Composition in Africa and the Diaspora in Cambridge, England at the University of Cambridge/Churchill College. The Cambridge performance was a special return invitation after premiering three compositions by Lettie Beckon Alston in 2003. She performed in Mendelssohn’s Elijah with the Calvin Oratorio Society in 2004; as well as and in the role of Clara in Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess with Opera Grand Rapids. She appeared with the Grand Rapids Symphony in 2003, singing Mahler’s Fourth Symphony, Erntelied by Alma Mahler, Adolphus Hailstork’s Four Spirituals for soloists, chorus and orchestra and Duane Davis’ Spiritual Journeys and Spaces. As a choral director she toured in West Africa with the Calvin College Gospel Choir. In the summer of 2001 toured England and France as soloist with the Cappella choir of Calvin College.
She has accrued an impressive list of awards and prizes during her career as an artist. Among the most notable of these are the Leontyne Price Vocal Arts Award, the Cultural Heritage Award, Giants Award, Community Cultural Awareness Award, Phi Kappa Lambda, the YWCA Woman of Achievement Award and the Christine Witter Award from the San Francisco Opera Merola Program. She was also a finalist in the Chicago Lyric Opera American Artist Competition. She has appeared with the San Francisco Opera (as part of the Merola Program), the North Carolina Opera, the Michigan Opera Theater, the Charlotte Opera, the Charlotte Symphony, the Grand Rapids Symphony, Opera Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Cantata Choir and a host of other regional organizations.
Dr. Sawyer is familiar to Midwest audiences for her recitals of African American art song. In 1989 she and her husband James founded the J.R. Randolph Company. The J. R. Randolph Company is a multi-cultural group with a vision to educate, entertain and challenge our community by presenting multi-discipline works of African-American composers. Dr. Sawyer along with her husband (James) was awarded the 2008 Legacy Award from the Grand Rapids Symphony for outstanding work in education and community service.
She is not only a professional soloist but has utilized her God given musical talents in many other ways, which include church organist, minister of music, choir director and clinician. She holds a Master and Doctorate Degree in Music from the University of Michigan. Her undergraduate study was at Youngstown State University in Ohio.
Curriculum Vitae
Summary
- Native of Youngstown, Ohio
- Lyric Coloratura Soprano
- Excellent Health
- Extensive background in vocal performance and instructional training of opera, recital, oratorio, symphonic and choral literature.
Education
1989-96 |
University of Michigan; Ann Arbor, Michigan |
1978-80 |
University of Michigan; Ann Arbor, Michigan |
1971-76 |
Youngstown State University |
1971-77 |
Dana School of Music, Youngstown, OH Bachelor of Music Degree Voice Instructors • Shirley Verrett, Lorna Haywood, Martha Sheil, Stanley Kolk, Veronica Tyler, Willis Patterson, Rosemarie Kascher, David Starkey |
Additional Study
1996 |
NATS Musical Theater Workshop; SMU; Dallas, Texas |
1985 |
Michigan Opera Theater; Artist Intern; Detroit, Michigan |
1982-84 |
North Carolina Opera; Artist-In-Residence, Charlotte, NC (Toured with over 300 performances of major roles) |
1984 |
San Francisco Opera Merola Program; San Francisco, California |
1981 |
Southwestern Opera Institute; Lafayette, Louisiana -Boris Goldovsky Master Class; Lafayette, Louisiana - Beverly Wolff |
1975 &'78 |
National Music Camp; Interlochen, Michigan |
1975 |
Interpretation of Operatic Arias; Ann Arbor, Michigan - George Shirley |
1973 |
Schubert Lieder; Aspen, Colorado - Hans Heinz |
PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS
Performances
Recital of Women Composers, Grand Rapids Women’s City Club, August 30, 2007.
Calvin Oratorio Society, Soprano Soloist: Mendelssohn’s “St. Paul” Calvin College FAC, April 22, 2007
Alliance Art Song Festival, University of California, Irvine, CA, Four Short Songs for Soprano, Feb. 12-15, 2007
Harbor Choral Society, Soprano soloist, Jonathan Wilcox, conducting his ballet “Snow White” with the Grand Rapids Ballet, “Misa Criolla” by Ariel Ramirez and “Benedicite” by Ralph Vaughn Williams, DeVos Hall, July 29, 2006
Oakland University, Rochester, MI, Guest Recital, “The Music of the African American Composers,” Feb. 4, 2006
Harbor Choral Society, “Fanshawe’s African Sanctus” Soprano soloist, with Jonathan Wilcox, Conductor at DeVos Performance Hall, July 30, 2005
Recital, Cambridge, England at Churchhill College for the International Symposium and Festival on Composition in Africa and the Diaspora, “Art Songs of African-American Composers,” Aug 6, 2005
Benefit Concert – St. Cecilia for Hurricane Victims “Katrina, ” Soloist – Sept. 17, 2005
Soloist Music Faculty Showcase FAC Auditorium, September 23, 2005
Benefit Concert “Three Sopranos” Trinity United Methodist Church,
– Collaboration with Grand Valley State University, Sept 30, 2005
Faculty Joint Recital, Guitar and Voice “Latin American Art Songs” with Carlos de la Barrerra, FAC Auditorium, Oct. 14, 2005
Recital – Noon Time Series for “Call” - Guitar and Voice – Oct. 20, 2005
GR Chamber Choir – Hadyn, St. Nicholas Mass, Afro Brazilian Songs– Laudate Peri, Manuel Garcia – Premier Performance of Motet O Vere Christe by Paizia, Guest Soloist, conducted by Susan Tiemstra – St. Andrew’s Cathedral, GR – Nov. 6, 2005
Calvin Alumni Choir –Guest Soloist: Christmas & Epiphany Concert, Moses Hogan Spirituals, Third CRC, Zeeland, MI, Jan. 9, 2004
G.R. Cantata Choir – Guest Soloist: Missa brevis
The Choral Music of Zoltán Kodály Program, St.John’s Episciple Church, Mar. 28, 2004
Calvin Oratorio Society, Mendelssohn’s “Elijah” - Soloist -April 17, 2004
Calvin Women’s Choral – Guest Soloist: Dixit Dominus by Haydn, Pamina, Scene from “Die Zauberflöte” by Mozart, May 7, 2004
Synod 2004, Service of Prayer and Praise, Guest Soloist, June 13, 2004
Opera Grand Rapids, Clara in Porgy and Bess by George Gershwin, Devos Hall with Robert Lyall, conductor,
October 29 & 30, 2004
Recital, Three Premier Works of Lettie Beckon Alston at the 2nd International
Symposium and Festival on Composition in Africa and the Diaspora in Cambridge, England, August 1-4, 2003
Recital of African/ African American composers,
First Park Congregational Church – July 19, 2003
Performances Conducted
Conductor, Annual Spring Concert, FAC Auditorium, April 23, 2007
Southern California Spring Break Tour – Calvin Gospel Choir – March 18-24, 2007
Redlands, Chino, Ontario, Escondido, San Marcos, Los Angeles, Cerritos, Bellflower and Lake View Terrace, California.
Westview Community Church, Grand Rapids, MI – Calvin Gospel Choir – Feb. 2007
Conductor, Calvin Gospel Choir – “Calvin Institute for Christian Worship Symposium” Worship Services – Jan. 29-30, 2006
Conductor, Calvin Gospel Choir, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI – Gospel Night, March 11, 2006
Conductor, Annual Spring Concert, FAC Auditorium, April 23, 2006
Conductor, Calvin Gospel Choir, Baldwin CRC. April 30, 2006
Conductor, Calvin Gospel Choir, “Calvin Around Town” at Ford Field, Detroit, MI, Hosted by the Southeast Michigan Chapter of the Alumni Association on Saturday, May 6, 2006 NFL Hall of Famed Lem Barney
Conductor, Calvin Gospel Choir
“National Association of Christian Social Workers Conference” (NACSW)
Marriot Hotel, Grand Rapids, MI, October 29, 2005
Conductor, Calvin Gospel Choir
Fall Music Festival *FAC Auditorium, October 21 & 22, 2005
Conductor and Hosted, Calvin College Gospel Night featuring choirs from Western Michigan University, Michigan State University, Ferris State, Hope College and Grand Valley State University, Nov. 5, 2005
Conductor, Calvin Gospel Choir
South Grandville CRC Concert, Nov. 13, 2005
Conductor, Annual Fall Concert Calvin Gospel Choir, Nov. 20, 2005
Conductor, Calvin Gospel Choir – Interim Tour
First Church of the Nazarene, - Coshocton, Pa - Concert
New Life Ambassadors for Christ – Mount Clemens, MI
Concerts and Church Services, Jan. 27-30, 2004
Conductor, Calvin Gospel Choir Concert – South Olive CRC – Kalamazoo, Mi, March 14, 2004
Conductor, Calvin Gospel Choir Spring Concert, FAC Auditorium, April 25, 2004
Conductor, Madison Square Fellowship Choir - Habitat For Humanity Program at DeVos Center for Arts and Worship, August 23, 2003
Conductor, Calvin Gospel Choir Fall Concert, FAC Auditorium, Nov. 23, 2003
Directed
Director – Gianni Schicchi Scene, Calvin College Music Department, May 1 & 3, 2007
Musical Director -“A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum”
A Joint Production with the Calvin Theatre Company and the Music Dept. Gezon Auditorium April 14-16 and 21-23, 2005
Musical Director – “God’s Trombones” by James Weldon Johnson
Madison Square CRC – 4 Performances, May 20-23, 2004
Musical Director - “As it is in Heaven” – Calvin Theater Company
(2004)
Session Chair/Panelist/Clinician
Clinician – Camp Judah, Grace Church for the Nations, Music Leadership Camp, June 25-30, 2007
Clinician – Voice and Diction for the Church Singer, The 102nd Ministers and 73rd Choir Director’s & Organists’ Guild Workshop, Hampton University, Hampton, Virginia –June 3-8, 2007
Clinician, Soloist – Grace Presbyterian Church –Montclair, New Jersey, May 18-20, 2007
Clinician - Vocal Master Classes, The 101st Ministers and 72st Choir Director’s & Organists’ Guild Workshop, Hampton University, Hampton, Virginia –June 4-9, 2006
Clinician – Tabernacle Community Church, Grand Rapids, MI
“Excellence in Worship Leading” – May 5th & 6th, 2006
Clinician – Renaissance Church of God In Church, Grand Rapids, MI
“Excellence in Worship Leading- Vocal Technician” – Feb. 11, 2006
Clinician – Madison CRC, Grand Rapids, Mi – “The Basics of Singing”
Oct. 8, 2006
Panelist - Faculty Scholarship Luncheon, “Why research is important?” Calvin Commons Meeting Room, October 6, 2005
Clinician, The 71st Choir Director’s & Organists’ Guild Workshop, Hampton Virginia – 2 Sessions – “Building Musical Competency in Music Ministry: The Fundamentals of Musicianship.” June 5-10, 2005
Co-Facilitator, Presenter – Peaching and Worship Amongst Afro-Christian Women (July 23-27)
Co- Facilitator, Presenter - Health and Transformation in Afro-Christian Worship
Music Therapy – Health and Transformation, July 14-18, 2003
Editor, Judge, Referee
Adjudicator for Kalamazoo Bach Festival, Young Artist Competition, Kalamazoo College, April 2007
Adjudicator for Hope College Concerto Competition, Hope College, Holland, MI Feb. (2007)
Adudicator for Hope College Performance Night at DeVos Performance Hall March (2007)
Adjudicator for Kalamazzo Bach Festival High School and College Competition, Kalamazoo College, March 28, 2007
Adjudicator for the State National Association of Teachers of Singing at Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI April 2, 2005
Grants, Professional Awards/Honors, Designs, Patents
Calvin Faculty Summer Research Grant (2007)
Received a McGregor Fellowship
Supervised a project for the McGregor Summer Research Fellowship Program, (title: A Classical Song Book of Art Songs by African-American Women Composers) – Internal Grant, Summer 2005
Faculty Support Grant, Summer 2005
Contract with Prof. Alexis Abernathy, Chapter in her book, Spiritual Experience in Worship, The Trinity Encounter and All that Jazz: Inspired by the Sacred Works of Duke Ellington. Co-Authored with Tyson Chung*, graduate student at Fuller Theological Seminary. (Baker Book Publisher)
Publications/CD/DVD Recordings
“Instructional DVD for Gospel Choirs” (2007).
“Then Sings My Soul” Celebrating 10 years with the Calvin Gospel Choir (September 2007 release date)
“Resurrection Power” DVD with the Calvin College Gospel Choir (2006)
CD “Religious Music for Voice and Piano by Lettie Beckon Alston & Friends (2006).
CD “The Unknown Flower” Song Cycles by American Women Composers. (2000)
CD’s “Fare Ye Well,” featured on Our Father by Eugene Hancock (2002)
“Art Songs by Black American Composers,” featured on “Status Symbol” by David Baker (release 1998)
Written Publications:
- Sing A New Creation Hymnal Supplement - Committee (2001)
- Leaders Edition - Sing A New Creation Article on African-American Gospel Music (2002) -ARTICLE
- My Heart I Offer -Daily Reflections on the Journey of Faith (2000)
- Reformed Worship Magazine Article - Songs For The Season (1999)
RESEARCH IN PROGRESS
Vocal Classical Music of African American Women Composers (continuous)
Fall 2007 Sabbatical
PRESS REVIEWS
"...this is one of the finest singers around anywhere - not just in West Michigan. She does just about everything right. Her singing is superb, her diction even better. Her stage presence is winning and warm...... Muskegon Chronicle, MI
".....Charsie Sawyer is 'remarkable'...
Her voice is both crystal-sharp and honey-soft, and she has the rare gift of being able to enunciate clearly at all times..... Muskegon Chronicle, MI
"... has an absolutely charming voice and manner...... G. R. Press, MI
".... pleasant soprano voice and expressive singing was the only thing that saved the work from being completely eclipsed..... G. R. Press, MI
"..... her attractive face and voice glowed with joyful enthusiasm as she sang, and her singing of the difficult 16th-note melismas in "Rejoice greatly" were very impressive and musical.... G. R. Press, MI
"....displayed stylishness in her singing. Technically, she was master of the many runs in her sections, even when the conductor led them at a very brisk pace..Kalamazoo Gazette, MI
"....deserves credit for sheer daring shown in a combination of difficult song and near-athletic mime as an enchanted mechanism tinkling 'The Doll Song' from Offenbach's "Tales of Hoffman." It was clear, precise and almost unnaturally natural...." Focus, Hickory, NC
"....captivated the audience with a voice that never seemed to falter or strain to reach any of the higher notes." Hickory Daily Record, NC
".... has what is called stage presence - relaxed and natural as an actress, and vocally one of the strongest voices in the cast." Saginaw,Mi News
"....she moves and sings beautifully..." Youngstown Vindicator, OH
" I know now what they meant when they say that her voice sounded like a bell. I think yours was even better! It has been a long time since I have enjoyed a performance more than yours..."
Dr. Del Weber, Chancellor, University of Nebraska-Omaha
"Your superb artistry combined with your gracious personality have made these concerts some of the most enjoyable that I have ever performed. You are an exceptional talent and it was a great pleasure to have you as our special guest artist."
LTC Craig Jessop, U.S. Air Force Commander, ACC Band
