Biography
Rosephanye Powell has made a name for herself in the choral worlds of composition, singing, music education, and research study in the preservation and performance of African-American spirituals and gospel music. An avid choral clinician and an insightful adjudicator, she travels the world to share her expertise and her luscious soprano voice.
—Chanticleer (GRAMMY® Award-winning male vocal ensemble)
Composer
Dr. Rosephanye Powell is celebrated as one of America’s foremost women composers of choral music, earning widespread acclaim for her exceptional contributions to the art form. With a remarkable catalogue of works published by leading publishers like Hal Leonard Corporation, Gentry Publications, Oxford University Press, Alliance Music Publications, and Shawnee Press, her compositions have been performed, recorded, and premiered by world-renowned conductors and ensembles. From the grandeur of Carnegie Hall to the iconic Lincoln Center and Spivey Hall, her music has captivated audiences in some of the nation’s most prestigious venues. Among the many distinguished ensembles to bring her works to life are Cantus and the Grammy award-winning men’s vocal ensemble Chanticleer.
Recipient of the 2025 Brock Commission
Rosephanye Powell, Acclaimed American Composer, Receives Prestigious 2025 Raymond Brock Memorial Commission, to Premiere at ACDA National Conference in Dallas, Texas.
Educator
In addition to her celebrated compositions, Dr. Powell is a dynamic educator, serving as Coordinator of Voice Studies and conductor of the Women’s Chorus, and co-conductor of the Concert and Gospel choirs at Auburn University. Her expertise and passion have made her a sought-after presenter, conductor, adjudicator, and clinician at premier conferences and festivals worldwide. She has conducted all-state and honor choirs across the United States in states such as California, Colorado, Florida, and New York, and has brought her talents to international stages in Italy, Australia, and the United Kingdom.
Commissions and Highlights
Recent commission and premiere highlights include: Love Will Find A Way (SATB) premiered by the Metropolitan Youth Chorale of New York at Lincoln Center, NY; Get Busy (SATB) premiered and conducted by the composer at Carnegie Hall, NY; A Christmas Medley (SATB), commissioned and performed by multi-Grammy award-winning Chanticleer; When I Sing (SSA), commissioned by the American Composers Forum CHORALQUEST series, amongst many other notable performances.
Dedication
Dr. Powell’s distinguished career is adorned with numerous accolades, including the ACDA 2025 Raymond Brock Commission, Honorary Life Membership in the National Collegiate Choral Organization (2023), and the National Vanguard Award from the National Association of Negro Musicians, Inc. (2023). She is also a recipient of Harvard University’s Luise Vosgerchian Teaching Award (2022) and has been honored with the “Living Legend Award” by California State University’s African Diaspora Sacred Music Festival. Additionally, she holds the Marquis Who’s Who “Lifetime Achievement Award” and has been featured in notable publications like Who Is Who in Choral Music and Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers.
Dr. Powell’s affiliations reflect her dedication to excellence in the field: she is an active member of the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP), the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), Chorus America, the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), the National Association of Music Educators (NAFME), the National Association of Negro Musicians (NANM), and the National Collegiate Choral Organization (NCCO).
Through her groundbreaking compositions, inspiring leadership, and unwavering commitment to the choral arts, Dr. Rosephanye Powell continues to leave an indelible mark on the world of music.
Active Member of Organizations
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).
"Who's Who"
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.
Living Legend Award
Dr. Powell has received numerous awards, including the “Living Legend Award” presented by California State University African Diaspora Sacred Music Festival in Los Angeles (2009).
Still I Rise
Still I Rise by Rosephanye Powell, sung by Vox Femina Los Angeles, Helen Mendoza and Allie Fukushima, soloists
Composed originally for treble choir, this piece has been one of the most popular selections in the Gentry catalog. Directors have been begging for an SATB voicing for years, and it is finally here. The title is the message, one of hope and resiliency. The gospel style writing includes a soloist, call and response lines, and builds to a glorious ending.