Wendell G. Wright collection of concert recordings, 1957-1997 | Center for Black Music Research

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Collection Overview

Title: Wendell G. Wright collection of concert recordings, 1957-1997

Predominant Dates:1977-1994

ID: 4000/WRIG_4004

Primary Creator: Wright, Wendell G. (1921-2000)

Other Creators: Lois J. Wright Memorial Concert Series

Extent: 18.0 Boxes. More info below.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged in five series

Series 1: Lois J. Wright Memorial Concert Series audio tapes, contains 17 sub-series arranged chronologically.

Series 2: Audiovisual materials, contains 2 sub-series arranged alphabetically my artist

Series 3: Papers

Series 4: Scores

Series 5: Gerald Burks Wilson Materials

Date Acquired: 00/00/2000

Abstract

Collection, 1957-1997 (bulk 1977-1994), consisting chiefly of audio recordings (reel-to-reel and cassette) of the Lois J. Wright Memorial Concert Series; video cassettes; scores, including several compositions and arrangements by Gerald Burks Wilson; and papers, including concert programs and correspondence relating to the Lois J. Wright Memorial Concert Series.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The Wendell G. Wright Collection consists primarily of materials relating to the Lois J. Wright Memorial Concert Series. The collection includes nearly 300 reel-to-reel audio tapes of musical performances, most of which are recordings of Concert Series performances. Also relating to the Concert Series are a number of audio cassettes and video cassettes of musical performances. Papers relating to the Concert Series, which include concert programs and correspondence, have been arranged chronologically by concert season. While the Concert Series appears to have continued from 1977 until at least 1997, the collection contains no papers relating to the years 1980 through 1984. The collection also lacks audio and video recordings of the Concert Series beyond the 1993-94 concert season.

The Wendell G. Wright Collection also includes several published musical scores by black composers, and these consist largely of spiritual arrangements. An interesting component of the collection is a group of twenty scores (both manuscripts and copies of manuscripts) by the African-American composer Gerald Burks Wilson. A few fragments and unidentified pieces by Wilson are also included. Other materials relating to Wilson, including copyright registration certificates for his compositions, follow in the series.

Collection Historical Note

Wendell G. Wright, born August 18, 1921, was an East Baltimore native who attended Douglass High School. He had desired to attend the Peabody Conservatory after graduation but was denied admission because he was an African American. He instead took private singing lessons in Baltimore and sang with choirs along the East Coast. He became the first African American to join Baltimore's Handel Choir and performed at the White House at one of President Richard M. Nixon's prayer breakfasts.

Wright devoted his life and resources to helping young singers and musicians. He started the Young Artists Series at St. Katherine's Episcopal Church in the spring of 1977. This soon evolved into the Lois J. Wright Memorial Concert Series, named for Wright's first wife, who passed away that year. The Concert Series encouraged and supported performances by minority classical musicians. Wright’s efforts also resulted in the creation of the Community Outreach Committee at the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, where he was appointed chairman of the Inclusion Committee, which brought more African Americans into the orchestra. Additionally, he created "Live, Gifted and Black," an annual concert where African-American artists performed the work of African-American composers with the BSO. Wright died on May 24, 2000, at the age of 78. His second wife Dorothy, to whom he was married in 1978, donated the collection after his death.

Biographical Note

Administrative Information

Repository: Center for Black Music Research

Alternate Extent Statement: 18 boxes

Access Restrictions: None

Use Restrictions: None

Physical Access Note: Includes reel-to-reel (5 in. and 7 in.) and cassette tapes, video cassettes and scores

Acquisition Source: Wright, Dorothy

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Lois J. Wright Memorial Concert Series audio tapes],
[Series 2: Audiovisual materials],
[Series 3: Papers],
[Series 4: Scores],
[Series 5: Gerald Burks Wilson Materials],
[All]

Series 2: Audiovisual materials

Sub-Series 1: Tapes unrelated to the Lois J. Wright Memorial Concert Series

Box 6

Item 1: June 3, 1957. Betty Malkus Ridgeway, mezzo soprano. [Part] 1.
Item 2: December 24, 1957. Christmas Broadcast on WITH. Gerald Burks Wilson, director of music; Veronica Tyler, soprano soloist.
Item 3: 1964. Etude Octet. 1st Scholarship Concert. Recipient, Lewis Knight, tenor.
Item 4: September 25, 1966. Octet Concert.
Item 5: May 1967. Selections from concerts by Etude Octet.
Item 6: February 11, 1968. Octet Concert.
Item 7: May 19, 1968. Concert, Unity Methodist Church.
Item 8: May 19, 1968. Etude Concert.
Item 9: 1968. Entender y Hablar. Reel 14.
Item 10: June 8, 1973. Recital. Daisy Jackson, Soprano.
Item 11: April 25, 1974. Song Recital. Daisy Jackson [soprano]; Oresta Cybriwsky, accompanist.

Box 7

Item 12: May 19, 1974. Recital. David Hudson, tenor.
Item 13: June 9, 1974. Recital. Daisy Jackson, soprano; Corine Anderson, pianist.
Item 14: April 13, 1975. Recital. Daisy Jackson, soprano; Oresta Cybriwsky, accompanist.
Item 15: April 13, 1975. Recital. Daisy Jackson, soprano; Oresta Cybriwsky, accompanist.
Item 16: June 8, 1975. Daisy Jackson, soprano; Corine Anderson, pianist; Hayward Mickens, accompanist. Joint Recital.
Item 17: May 4, 1977. Master of Music Recital. Alma Garrick [?]; Gregory Thompson, accompanist.
Item 18: August 8, 1977.
Item 19: [September 1977?] Rehearsal tape, Delores Jones (night session).
Item 20: 1977. John Young, pianist.
Item 21: January 28, 1979. Daisy Jackson, soprano; Sylvia Lee, piano.
Item 22: April 12, 1982. Talent Expo - 82.
Item 23: March 13, 1983. Johnny Batts, tenor.
Item 24: July 7, 1983. Auditions for the Lois J. Wright Memorial Concert Series.
Item 25: [1985] Easter 85.
Item 26: [1985] Auditions
Item 27: September 8, 1985. Sylvester Graves, tenor.
Item 28: May 6, 1986. Composition recital. Anthony J. Perkins [original compositions]
Item 29: April 5, 1987. City Youth String Orchestra. Vladimir Svoysky, conductor.
Item 30: April 28, 1987. Louise Toppin, organ, piano, coloratura piano.
Item 31: September 13, 1992. Organ Dedication Ceremony Services. Lawrence Keith Bowie, organist.
Item 32: September 14, 1992. A Week of Dedicatory Organ Services. Granville S. Wright, organist.
Item 33: September 15, 1992. Organ Dedication Services. Marvin Mills, organist. [1]

Box 8

Item 34: September 16, 1992. Organ Dedicatory Services. Spencer Hammond, director; Lawrence Bowie, organist for choir; Granville S. Wright, service organist.
Item 35: September 17, 1992. Organ Dedication Services. Jocelyn Taylor, soprano; Yvette Matthews, mezzo soprano; Milagros Matos-Williams, soprano; Albert Wagner, organist; Dr. Maurice Murphy, director.
Item 36: September 18, 1992. Organ Dedication Services.
Item 37: Easter 1993. [?]
Item 38: June 13, 1993. June Recital. 1st half.
Item 39: Baltimore Singers at Trinity AME Church. [?]
Item 40: [?] Choral music.
Item 41: [?] Daniel Comegys: in recital at the Waxter Center.
Item 42: [?] The Chancel Choir of Douglas Memorial Community Church.
Item 43: [?] Concert: St. Phillips Lutheran Church.
Item 44: [?] The Etude Octette: rehearsal.
Item 45: [?] Etude Octette at Roinonia.
Item 46: [?] [Etude] Octette at Sollers Point High School.
Item 47: [?] Alma Garrick: Peabody.
Item 48: [?] Henrietta Morgan, soprano.
Item 49: [?] Recital. Daisy Jackson.
Item 50: [?] Recital at Grace Memorial.
Item 51: [?] An Interview with Reid Heisler: WBJC On Concert Series.
Item 52: [?] Selections by the Etude Concert from concerts and rehearsals. Recorded by Mr. William Griggsby.
Item 53: [?] Sonny Stitt, varitone; Ellis Larkus, piano; Ramsey Lewis, upright; Frank Sinatra
Item 54: [?] Anita K. Taylor. 1, 34 [on spine]
Item 55: [?] Anita K. Taylor. 201 [on spine]
Item 56: [?] Anita K. Taylor. 1013, 29 [on spine]
Item 57: [?] Anita K. Taylor. 1038 [on spine]
Item 58: [?] Anita K. Taylor. 2001, 7 [on spine]
Item 59: [?] Howard Wright, tenor.
Item 33-2: September 15, 1992. Organ Dedication Services. Marvin Mills, organist. [2-3]
Sub-Series 3: Audio cassettes

Sub-Series 2: Tapes without documentation

Box 9

Item 61: [23 tapes with boxes]

Box 10

Item 62: [23 tapes without boxes]

Sub-Series 3: Audio cassettes

Box 11

Item 64: June 1979.
Item 65: April 27, 1980. Celia Sucgang, violin.
Item 66: March 14, 1982. F. Corine Anderson, piano.
Item 67: June 17, 1984. Ellyn Crawford, soprano.
Item 68: September 23, 1984. Kevin Short, bass.
Item 69: [?] 1987. Austria Gray, [?]; Corine [Anderson?], piano.
Item 70: [June?] 1988. Jerris Cates, soprano.
Item 71: November 18, 1988. Corine [Anderson?].
Item 72: May 11, 1989. Raymond Jackson, piano.
Item 73: May 21, 1989.
Item 74: June 19, 1989. Marcus Eley, clarinet; Reginald Walters, piano.
Item 75: October 21, 1990. Nina Kennedy, piano.
Item 76: November 25, 1990. Danny Kelley, piano; Kelvin McClendon, piano.
Item 77: February 18, 1991. Diane Monroe, [?].
Item 78: March 17, 1991. Michelle Howard, soprano; Marcus Eley, clarinet.

Box 12

Item 79: April 21, 1991. Yvette Vanterpool, soprano; David Holkeboer, accompanist.
Item 80: September 15, 1991. Jerris Cates, soprano; Dorothy Lofton Jones, mezzo soprano; Sylvester Graves, tenor; Antonio Green, Baritone; Charles Richardson, accompanist (piano).
Item 81: March 22, 1992. Joel A. Martin, piano.
Item 82: March 24, 1992. Corine [Anderson?].
Item 83: April 26, 1992. Mellasenah Morris-Edwards, violin.
Item 84: Christmas 1993. Theron Thomas Johnson, soprano.
Item 85: 1992-93. April A. Haynes, soprano.
Item 86: April 12, 1994. David Lockington, conductor; Miryam Yardumian, [?].
Item 87: April 1994. Louise Toppin, soprano.
Item 88: January 13, 1994. Baltimore Symphony Orchestra; David Lockington, conductor.
Item 89: May 21, 1995. Cleveland Chandler, violin.
Item 90: [?] Peter W.D. Bramble, Christine Hall, J. Spencer.
Item 91: [?] Uzee Brown, Jr.
Item 92: [?] Pamela Burns, soprano.
Item 93: [?] Chesapeake Brass Quintet.
Item 94: [?] Joy Michelle Cline, piano; Amadi Hummings, viola.

Box 13

Item 95: [?] James Cooper III, cello; Margi Keefe, piano.
Item 96: [?] Ollie Watts Davis, soprano.
Item 97: [?] Mattiwilda Dobbs, coloratura soprano.
Item 98: [?] Georgine Duncan, soprano.
Item 99: [?] Richard Fields, piano.
Item 100: [?] Fisk Jubilee Singers.
Item 101: [?] Michelle Fizer.
Item 102: [?] Mareda Gaither-Graves, soprano.
Item 103: [?] Lisa R. HammAck.
Item 104: [?] Mareda Gaither-Graves, soprano; Mellasenah Morris, piano.
Item 105: [?] Luvada Harrison, soprano; Ben Holt, baritone; Yvette Matthews, mezzo soprano.
Item 106: [?] Margaret Harris, piano.
Item 107: [?] Charlotte Holliman; Gwendolyn Bradley.
Item 108: [?] Ben Holt, baritone; Joel A. Martin, piano.
Item 109: [?] Raymond Jackson, piano.
Item 110: [?] Dylan Jensen, violin.
Item 111: [?] Delores Jones, soprano.
Item 112: [?] Martin David Jones, piano.

Box 14

Item 113: [?] Robert Jordan, piano.
Item 114: [?] Fredricka King, piano.
Item 115: [?] Joseph Littles-Senito, piano.
Item 116: [?] Joel A. Martin, piano.
Item 117: [?] Mellasenah Morris, piano.
Item 118: [?] Mellasenah I. Morris, violin.
Item 119: [?] Jerrold Pope, baritone.
Item 120: [?] William Shores, baritone.
Item 121: [?] Troy Stuart, cello; Rachel Jordan, violin.
Item 122: [?] Louise Toppin, soprano.
Item 123: [?] Aleksandra Utrecht, piano.
Item 124: [?] Jethro Woodson, bassoonist.
Item 125: [?] Discussion & Examples of Quartet Singing.
Item 126: [?] Handel
Item 127: [?] Seminar.
Item 128: Muungano National Choir, Kenya. Missa Luba. Philips 426 836-4. (shelved separately)

Sub-Series 4: Videocassettes

Box 15

Item 1: February 21, 1988. Jerris Cates Concert.
Item 2: March 20, 1988. Jones/Eubanks Concert.
Item 3: November 27, 1988. Douglas Memorial Community Church. Messiah - Handel. (Watkins - Shaw) Johnson.
Item 4: 1988. St. Katherine
Item 5: March 12, 1989. The Lois J. Wright Orchestral Concert. Mellasenah Morris, piano soloist. Douglass High School.
Item 6: May 10, 1990. Ben Edward Holt, Jr.
Item 7: September 15, 1991. Compositions of Eugene Scheffres.
Item 8: May 19, 1992. Lois J. Wright Concert. Joy Michelle Cline, piano; Amadi Hummings, viola. New Community College of Balto.
Item 9: 1993. St Katherine
Item 10: [?] Ben Holt Benefit. Douglas Memorial Church. Jerris Cates; Corine Anderson.
Item 11: [?] Lois J. Wright. Memorial Concert #14.
Item 12: [?] Lois J. Wright. Memorial Concert #14.
Item 13: [?] Lois J. Wright. Memorial Concert #14.
Item 14: [?] St Katherine
Item 15: [?] St. Katherine
Item 16: [?] The Chancel Choir of Douglas Memorial Community Church. James Spencer Hammond, director. Lawrence K. Bowie, organist.