Sigma Alpha Iota

PAN PIPES Winter 2020 9 TRIBUTE S oprano Jessye Norman passed away on September 30, 2019 at the age of 74. An initiate of the Delta Nu Chapter at Howard University, she was later honored as a Member Laureate by the Washington, DC Alumnae Chapter; she was also a recipient of the SAI Graduate Performance Award. A five-time Grammy Award winner, including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, Norman received forty-five honorary doctorate degrees, was a Kennedy Center Honoree, and held the National Medal of the Arts. e world-wide reaction to the loss of this legendary musician was immense. Norman's funeral was a four-day celebration of her life, held October 10-13, 2019 in her hometown of Augusta, Georgia. Distinguished performers and speakers included longtime friend and civil rights activist Vernon Jordan, Augusta's natives Laurence Fishburne and Wycliffe Gordon, with musical tributes by six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald, Harolyn Blackwell, and Lawrence Brownlee. e Metropolitan Opera held a memorial concert on November 24th. Her trailblazing career, which included more than 80 appearances at the MET from 1983 to 1996, was honored with performances by sopranos Renee Fleming, Latonia Moore, SAI Leah Hawkins, Lisa Davidsen, mezzo-soprano J'Nai Bridges, and bass-baritone Eric Owens. rough the years, Jessye Norman continued to support Sigma Alpha Iota and shared many special relationships within the sisterhood. SAI Mary K Traver, a member of the Washington, DC Alumnae Chapter, had this to say about the incomparable Jessye Norman: "Many Washington, DC Alumnae members remember Jessye Norman with great affection and admiration. Many of us knew her as a young student at Howard University and winner of our chapter SAI Performance Award. In addition to a cash award, she was invited to perform at a monthly meeting of the alumnae held at my home. When her accompanist failed to arrive, I was recruited to accompany her in a Brahms lieder program. As you might imagine, we heard an amazing talent that evening and predicted great promise for an important career! Little did we know how far that talent would go! e late Helen Byrn May was Province President at that time, and had already identified this amazing singer. Helen would became her mentor and life long friend. Jessye was devoted to Helen, and in later years would remember her birthday with red roses –one for each year! We followed her career over the years and took great pleasure in attending her performances. My late husband, National Arts Associate Paul Traver, had the pleasure of working along side Jessye with music for President Ronald Reagan's second inauguration—she as soloist and he as Director of the University of Maryland Chorus. Being in her presence was always an inspiration. She was truly remarkable and unforgettable." In November of 2013, numerous SAIs gathered at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., guests of Member Laureate Jessye Norman, to celebrate the life and generous heart of Helen Byrn May, who gave a generous bequest to SAI Philanthropies, Inc. in her will. ose in attendance were uplied by the stirring and beautiful Lord's Prayer by Duke Ellington, as well as the closing Amazing Grace, sung by Miss Norman. Also performing that day was pianist and SAI Honorary Member Ann Schein. She shares a special tribute to her friend here. Jessye Norman in title role of Strauss's Ariadne auf Naxos at the Met in 1993. In Remembrance of Jessye Norman

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