MURPHY FINE ARTS CENTER PRESENTS DENYCE GRAVES IN CONCERT

Washington, D.C. native comes to Baltimore in a special solo performance set for October 19, 2003

Baltimore, MD (PRWEB) August 30, 2003 -- In a very special engagement, mezzo-soprano superstar, Denyce Graves will perform in recital at the Murphy Fine Arts Center on Sunday, October 19, 2003 at 4:00 p.m. This special event is will culminate a weeklong celebration of the Morgan State University Homecoming.

Denyce Graves is recognized and heralded as one of todays most exciting vocal stars. She receives unmatched critical and popular acclaim in her performances around the world and in a spectrum of musical genres. While operatic audiences are very familiar with Ms. Graves portrayals in the title roles of Carmen and Samson et Dalila. Her special renditions of 'America the Beautiful and 'The Lords Prayer during the 2001 National Prayer Service following the September 11th attacks made her voice and stunning persona known to a national audience.

In addition to innumerable operatic performances, her resume includes performances with the Boston Pops, the Nobel Peace Prize Awards concert and venues where one would not expect an operatic headliner.

Her most recent CD releases showcase her breadth and versatility. In January, 2003, The Lost Days -- a recording with jazz musicians of Latin songs in Spanish and Portuguese- was released; and in June, 2003, Church was released. This recording, developed by Denyce Graves, brings together African-American divas from a variety of musical backgrounds and styles that had their musical beginnings in church.

On October 19th Ms. Graves will perform an eclectic program, featuring some of the best-known jazz, gospel, and classical music ever sung. She will be accompanied by a solo pianist.

Denyce Graves is a native of Washington, D.C., where she attended the Duke Ellington School for the Performing Arts. She continued her education at Oberlin College Conservatory of Music and the New England Conservatory. In 1998, Ms. Graves received an honorary doctorate from Oberlin College Conservatory of Music. She was named one of the "50 Leaders of Tomorrow" by Ebony Magazine and was one of Glamour Magazine's 1997 "Women of the Year."

In 1999 WQXR Radio in New York named her as one of classical music's "Standard Bearers for the 21st Century." Denyce Graves has been invited on several occasions to perform in recital at The White House, and she provides many benefit performances for various causes special to her throughout each season.

Tickets for this performance can be purchased through Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com or 410-481-SEAT / 202-432-SEAT / 800-527-6384) and at the Morgan State University box office (443-885-1522).

Related websites:    www.denycegraves.com
         www.murphyfineartscenter.org/mfac/mfac.htm

The Murphy Fine Arts Center, located on the Southeast edge of the Morgan State University campus, opened its doors in December, 2001. Since then, the Murphy Fine Arts Center has showcased world-renowned performers such as Ray Charles, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, and INDIA.Arie. The Murphy Fine Arts Center is committed to delivering a breadth of genres, artists, performers and entertainers to Baltimore-Washington area audiences in a state-of-the-art facility.

The centerpiece of this great venue is the Gilliam Concert Hall, with seating for over 2,000. With the Concert Hall, and three other performance spaces, the Murphy Fine Arts Center is able to accommodate a wider range of productions than any other facility in Baltimore: from Broadway / off-Broadway productions--to studio theatre; musical performances from symphony--to recital; or dance performances from chorus lines--to classical ballet--to African dance.

The Murphy Fine Arts Center is located at 2201 Argonne Drive in northeast Baltimore, and is 4½ miles north of downtown Baltimore and 5 miles south of the Baltimore beltway (I-695).

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