Lexington, Kentucky – Local soprano Angelique Clay, an associate professor at the University of Kentucky, is set to perform on back-to-back weekends in November 2023, showcasing her vocal talents in two distinct concerts. Clay will first perform with the Lexington Chamber Orchestra on November 16, and then again with the Lexington Philharmonic on November 23.
For the Lexington Chamber Orchestra’s concert, Clay will present Manuel de Falla’s “Siete Canciones Populares Españolas” (Seven Spanish Folk Songs), a piece she has previously taught but never performed herself. Clay expressed excitement about the opportunity, stating, “It just so happened that they are very close together… I also didn’t want to turn down either opportunity.” This performance will take place at Centenary Church located at 2800 Tates Creek Road, starting at 7:30 p.m.
The following week, she will perform Dolores White’s “Give Birth to the Dream” during the Lexington Philharmonic concert, which incorporates passages from Maya Angelou’s “On the Pulse of Morning”. The Philharmonic concert will take place at the Singletary Center for the Arts Concert Hall, also starting at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for this concert range from $11 to $78.
Clay, who has a deep passion for music by African-American women composers, views these performances as a significant opportunity. “One of my favorite things to sing is music by African-American women composers, so I was thrilled with the opportunity,” she said. Clay’s early career flourished while she sang leading roles in operas at the University of Kentucky, and she holds both a master’s and doctorate in musical arts from the institution.
In her current role as an educator, Clay dedicates approximately 30 hours a week to teaching a course on anatomy for singers and manages a full studio of students. She acknowledges the challenge of balancing teaching with performance. “It’s just trying to balance that plus teaching a full studio and then finding time to practice and learn new things,” Clay explained.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on live performances has been profound, making the transition back to the stage especially challenging for many artists, including Clay. Her international experience, including performances in Spain, has equipped her for this return, although she notes that singing in Spanish can be daunting. “The most challenging aspect of it was just trying to get that Castilian Spanish back underneath my tongue,” Clay remarked.
Looking ahead, her concert with the Lexington Philharmonic also serves as a preview for an upcoming recital on February 9, which will launch her recording project focused on music by African-American women composers. Clay emphasizes the importance of the opportunities she received at the University of Kentucky, saying, “I really felt well taken care of here… to repay that to the next generation I consider to be a great honor and a great responsibility.”
