Wayne Sanders
Wayne Sanders is co-founder of Opera Ebony and has served as its Musical Director since the company’s inception in 1973. Under his direction, Opera Ebony has gained domestic and international prominence.
As a coach/accompanist, Mr. Sanders has performed for televised Opera Ebony concerts worldwide including, acclaimed music festivals as the Spoleto Festival in Italy, Savonlinna Festival in Finland, venues such as The Kennedy Center (Washington D.C.), Carnegie Hall (New York City) with international superstars as Jessye Norman, Florence Quivar, Kathleen Battle, George Shirley, William Brown, Hilda Harris, Jorma Hynnenin, Benjamin Matthews and Jubilant Sykes.
For his contribution to the arts and humanities, he has been awarded numerous Honors within the United States and Europe; including Austria, Italy, Russia, Estonia and Germany. In Finland’s largest newspaper, Helsingin Sanomat, critic Olavi Kanko wrote, “He will be remembered as one of the great figures in the history of vocal music.”
With special emphasis on works by women and people of color, Mr. Sanders has co-produced and served as musical director for several world premieres. A brief listing includes; Perfect Harmony by Heikki Sarmanto (Finlandia Records), The Outcast by composer Noa Ain, The Meetin’ by Pamela Baskin-Watson, recent new opera/musical works of Leo Edwards’ Harriet Tubman, and touring musical review, The Colors of Love.
