MARIA CLARK
“One seldom finds a voice capable of such beauty across a variety of idioms,” said Cosmo Buono, Executive Director of Barry Alexander International Vocal Competition. “A voice this much at home in opera, lieder and spirituals is very rare. She is truly, both artistically and vocally, a triumph.”
MARIA CLARK
SOPRANO
Soprano Maria Clark and pianist Maria Thompson Corley navigate the intense emotion, scars of suffering, and religious passion in the hymns and goSoprano Maria Clark and pianist Maria Thompson Corley navigate the intense emotion, scars of suffering, and religious passion in the hymns and gospels on SOUL SANCTUARY from Navona Records. Featuring empowering spirituals from the past two centuries, the duo brings to life religious songs that have stood the test of time and find deep relevance today. Arranged by Thompson Corley and recorded in Atlanta GA’s Peachtree Presbyterian Church, these spirituals, including His Eye is on the Sparrow, Wade in the Water, and Glory, Glory, Hallelujah, offer uplifting outlooks in the face of adversity.spels on SOUL SANCTUARY from Navona Records. Featuring empowering spirituals from the past two centuries, the duo brings to life religious songs that have stood the test of time and find deep relevance today. Arranged by Thompson Corley and recorded in Atlanta GA’s Peachtree Presbyterian Church, these spirituals, including His Eye is on the Sparrow, Wade in the Water, and Glory, Glory, Hallelujah, offer uplifting outlooks in the face of adversity.
MARIA CLARK
SOPRANO
Statuesque Soprano, Maria Clark, has been acclaimed for her virtuosic skills of expressive singing across the idioms of Opera, Oratorio, and Art Song, and has been critiqued as possessing “The Voice of An Angel”. One of the most important aspects of her vocal abilities is her superb control of a very large instrument, all the while presenting a beautiful, rich, and layered voice.
As a young artist, Maria was kept busy while attending the excellent opera program at Florida State University, where she gained stage time under the watchful eye of Barbara Ford. Accepted to attend the prestigious Manhattan School of Music, Maria moved to New York to complete her education where she received her BM in vocal performance successfully. After spending additional time in New York, she ultimately returned home to Covington, Georgia and embarked on the early stages of building an active opera career.
Much like most vocalists, Maria performed concerts, as the lead soloist in her church, and gained experience by working with symphonies and small regional opera companies in the area, all the while improving her vocal technique and adding stage experience. She appeared with the Irene Harrower Opera Workshop, and performed the role of The Countess in The Marriage of Figaro and Annina in the Saint of Bleeker Street. It was while actively studying with a voice teacher and coach that Maria entered the MM program at Georgia State University and in 2005 received her degree in vocal performance. At this time, she performed with the University’s production of Tales of Hoffman as Antonia and as Violetta in their production of La Traviata.
Her career grew in 2005, when she landed a position with Atlanta Opera and appeared with the ensemble of Atlanta Opera in its 2005 production of Carmen, participated in Atlanta Opera and Opera Comique’s 2008 collaborative production of Porgy & Bess, touring in France, Spain, and Luxembourg performing as the Strawberry Woman. Maria’s impressive rendition of the role earned her the cover of Bess, in the Atlanta Opera’s main stage 2011 production of Porgy & Bess, and performing the role of Bess in Atlanta Opera’s abridged version which was produced for the Atlanta Opera Outreach School productions. It was at the end of the 2012-13 season that Maria delivered a son into the world of opera which created a delay in her active career growth.
2015 found Maria performing for North Carolina Opera as Odessa Clay in Approaching Ali. In 2012 Maria was honored to recently make her debut with FOSBO-Fundación Orquesta Sinfónica de Bogotá Colombia and was sought out to sing Bess in the Bennett arrangement of Gershwin’s concert version of Porgy & Bess. Maria has also made a musical appearance in Tyler Perry’s critically acclaimed movie, For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf. Recently Knoxville Opera booked Maria to sing on their annual Opera Goes to Church program which was aired on the PBS network in Tennessee. Maria lives in Covington, Georgia with her husband and young son.