Interview with Maria Thompson Corley

Broadcast, Director, Female Composers, Interview, New Music

As part of a series of events leading up to the world premiere of THE FOX AND THE COOKIE, Cherry Duke sat down with the composer/librettist, Dr. Maria Thompson Corley. This interview was facilitated by The Black El Paso Voice and The El Paso Woman–many...

THE FOX AND THE COOKIE – world premiere – 03/23

African American Composers, Chamber Music, Cross-over, Director, Diversity, Engagements, Female Composers, New Music, Teaching, US Premiere, World Premiere

This semester, Opera UTEP will present the world premiere of an opera for young audiences with words and music by Maria Thompson Corley. THE FOX AND THE COOKIE is a 30-minute work based loosely on Aesop’s Fables. It addresses themes of bullying, forgiveness,...

LIFE & DEATH: Art songs by African American & African Diaspora composers – 11/10/22

African American Composers, African Diaspora Composers, Arts Activism, Conference Presentation, Diversity, Engagements, Female Composers, Latin American Music, New Music, Recital, Special Programs

NATS member Cherry Duke and Esequiel Meza, Jr., piano, were selected from a competitive pool to perform their recital at the 2022 Texoma NATS Conference Artist Series. The National Association of Teachers of Singing, Inc. (NATS) was founded in 1944 and is now the...

LIFE & DEATH: Art songs by African American & African diaspora composers – 10/08/22

African American Composers, African Diaspora Composers, Arts Activism, Diversity, Engagements, Female Composers, Latin American Music, New Music, Recital, Special Programs, US Premiere

Cherry Duke is joined by Esequiel Meza, Jr., piano, to perform songs in English, Italian, German, French, and Spanish by African American and African Diaspora composers on the University of Texas at El Paso Faculty Recital Series. The contributions of Black classical...

EL PASO REQUIEM – World Premiere – 10/22/21

Engagements, New Music, Oratorio, Orchestral Repertoire, World Premiere

El Paso Requiem* [World Premiere] by Cuban American composer Jorge Martin *Commissioned by Communities for Peace; a historic partnership of El Paso Pro-Musica, El Paso Opera, El Paso Symphony Orchestra, and the University of Texas at El Paso Music Department, in...

BON APPÉTIT with El Paso Opera – 02/06/21

Engagements, New Music, Role Debut, Roles, Special Programs

Cherry Duke transforms into beloved master chef Julia Child in this one-woman opera by Lee Hoiby. As she demonstrates how to make a classic French chocolate cake adapted directly from the classic Julia Child television broadcast, there is flour flying and eggbeaters...