PHILADELPHIA — Cynthia Cozette Lee, award-winning African American classical music composer, recently had her art song, “The Wake” for voice and string orchestra selected as a mandatory (imposé) song for the distinguished competition Africa Lyric’s Opera – 2eme Concours International Des Grandes Voix Lyriques D’afrique, Edition Finale.
Cozette Lee’s poignant art song “The Wake” premiered in a performance held at the Palais de la Porte Dorée on April 15 in Paris, France. The art song was performed by each of the six finalists of the competition with the Orchestre Symphonique du Loiret under the direction of Maestro Mehdi Lougraïda before a noted jury and audience.
The competition was sponsored by Ludovic Tézier, baritone, and Hélène Delavault, mezzo-soprano, was president of the jury.
Cozette’s sister, Hazel Ann Lee, co-wrote the song’s lyrics. The lyrics are based on an original poem called “The Wake,” written by Hazel after attending a funeral wake of a scientist colleague. Hazel is an award-winning lyricist and published author and poet.
Her book of science poems and science fiction stories titled, “The Astronaut’s Window: Collection of Poems and Short Stories Celebrating Nature,” can be purchased from Amazon, Barnes, and Noble and other reputable booksellers.
For more information contact the composer, Cynthia Cozette Lee, at: [email protected] or visit her website at: https://www.cynthiacozettelee.com/.
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