Dr. Rosephanye Dunn Powell has been hailed as one of America’s premier women composers of choral music. She has an impressive catalogue of works published by some of the nation’s leading publishers, including the Hal Leonard Corporation, the Fred Bock Music Company, Oxford University Press and Alliance Music Publications. Additionally, Dr. Powell is commissioned yearly to compose for university choruses, professional, community and church choirs, as well as secondary school choruses. Dr. Powell’s works have been conducted and premiered by nationally-renowned choral conductors, including, but not limited to, Anton Armstrong, Philip Brunelle, Bob Chilcott, Rodney Eichenberger, Tom Hall, Albert McNeil, Tim Seelig, André Thomas and Judith Willoughby. Her work has been auctioned by Chorus America and her compositions are in great demand at choral festivals around the country, frequently appearing on the regional and national conventions of the American Choral Directors Association, as well as Honor Choir festivals. Her works are performed in many parts of the world including countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and South and Central America.  Dr. Powell’s compositions include sacred and secular works for mixed chorus, women’s chorus, men’s chorus, and children’s voices.

Dr. Powell serves as Professor of Voice at Auburn University. She holds degrees from The Florida State University (D.M. in vocal performance, University Fellow), Westminster Choir College (M.M. in vocal performance and pedagogy, with distinction), and Alabama State University (B.M.E., summa cum laude. Prior to her tenure at AU which began in 2001, Dr. Powell served on the faculties of Philander Smith College (AR, 1993-2001) and Georgia Southern University prior to Auburn University (Statesboro, 1987-1990).

Dr. Powell served as an arranger and co-editor, along with her husband Dr. William C. Powell, for the upcoming release of I’m Gonna Sing: Twelve Spirituals for Upper Voices to be published by Oxford University Press. Recent commissions include, but are not limited to, Christmas Give, a suite of five songs for SATB, composed for the Baltimore Choral Arts Society (2009); Be Glad in the Lord composed for Philip Brunelle and Plymouth Congregational Church (2009); Hope Come True, a suite of five songs for SSAA and SATB composed and arranged for MUSE Cincinnati’s Women’s Choir (OH), and premiered by MUSE and Central State University Chorus (2008); Rejoice!, for chorus, organ, trumpets, and timpani composed for the 50th Anniversary of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Auburn, Alabama (2007); Lullaby, a jazz ballad for women’s chorus composed for Bella Voce Women’s Ensemble, Las Vegas, Nevada (2007); Ev’ry Time I Feel the Spirit, arranged for The Sofia Chamber Choir “Vassil Arnaudov”- Bulgaria, Southeastern Europe (2006). Children of the Rainbow, an original work, composed for the Columbus (OH) Children’s Choir and the 2005 Children’s Choral Festival of African-American Music; Pete, Pete arranged for the Montgomery Academy Middle School Chorus for the 2005 Alabama Music Educators Association State Conference; Sicut Cervus composed for the 25th Anniversary of the Texas Collegiate Women’s Choral Festival, (2004); Still I Rise composed for Vox Femina, Los Angeles, CA (2004); and Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child arranged for the 35th anniversary of VocalEssence (Minneapolis, MN, 2003).

An accomplished singer and voice professor, Dr. Powell’s research has focused on the art of the African-American spiritual, the art songs of William Grant Still (dean of African-American composers), and voice care concerns for voice professionals (specifically, music educators, choral directors, and choral singers). She travels the country presenting lectures, lecture-recitals, recitals, workshops and clinics on these subjects for universities, schools, churches, and music organizations around the country and internationally.

Dr. Powell recently released her first single CD, Motherless Child.  MOTHERLESS CHILD, a tapestry of narratives, audio drama and spiritual arrangements performed in contemporary styles. The CD is available at iTunes, CDBABY, AMAZON, and other on-line stores.  Recent solo performances for 2009-2010 include Shirley Caesar and Mount Calvary Word of Faith Church (Raleigh, NC.); “Atlanta Live”; Christmas with the Baltimore Choral Arts Society (MD); the Crystal Cathedral and the “Hour of Power” (Los Angeles, CA) ;  Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church (Memphis, TN.)

As a researcher, Dr. Powell’s recent articles include Keeping the “Choir” in Showchoir published in the Amercan Choral Directors Journal; William Grant Still: His Life and His Songs and The African-American Spritual: Preparation and Performance Considerations both published in the prestigious NATS Journal of Singing. She served as the editor and wrote the introduction for William Grant Still: An Art Song Collection which is published by William Grant Still Music. Dr. Powell’s segment Living History is heard weekly on the nationally-syndicated radio program “The Donnie McClurkin Show”. During this segment, Dr. Powell gives radio listeners brief insights into the contributions of African Americans to American life and music.

In 2009, Dr. Powell received the “Living Legend Award” presented by California State University African Diaspora Sacred Music Festival in Los Angeles. She was listed in the first edition of the international publication Who Is Who in Choral Music. And, she has been included in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers and Outstanding Young Women in America in recent years. Dr. Powell is a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP), the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), the College Music Society (CMS), the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) and the Music Educators National Conference (MENC).

Dr. Powell is married to Dr. William C. Powell, a choral arranger and Director of Choral Activities at Auburn University.  They have two young daughters Camille Elise (9)and Kaitlyn Elizabeth Powell (7).  The family resides in Auburn, AL.