Voices of Freedom
Cast
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John Christopher Adams, Tenor
A frequent performer of opera, jazz, gospel, and musical theatre, John Christopher Adams has performed on stages around the world including Germany, Luxembourg, Austria, Switzerland, Israel, Chicago, Cincinnati, Houston, and Seattle. A native of Fannin, Mississippi, he studied theatre and music with the late Mrs. Karen Streit , Ms. Helen G. Morgan, Dr. Dana Guidroz, and Tom Baresel. He holds degrees in Vocal Performance and Opera from Mississippi College and the University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music. When he’s not performing, he owns and operates the John C. Adams State Farm Agency is Gadsden, Alabama.
John Christopher Adams, Tenor
Jason ‘Smiley’ Abrams is an inspirational speaker and poet. He has his Bachelor's in Speech Communication as well as a Master of Theological Studies. He is born, raised and called to Mississippi, currently serving as an Area Ministry Director for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship supervising college ministry in the entire state of Mississippi, Memphis, and West Florida with a particular focus on HBCUs. He has been in full-time ministry since 2008. Smiley is also the co-founder of the Andy Abrams Foundation, a nonprofit in honor of his late father.
He is the author of two poetry books - Curing the Midas Touch (2020) and Curing Whitewashed Black Man (2021) and a Bible study guide called Whitewashed Tombs: Restoring Justice, Mercy, & Faithfulness (2022). Smiley is a professional voice actor for his brother's company Propjosh Productions. He is a co-host for the movie review podcast - "What We Talkin’ Bout This Time?!"
Jason ‘Smiley’ Abrams
Ramelle Brooks’ noble bass voice has been described as powerful yet full of color and nuance. Ramelle is a young artist who is on the rise in the operatic community. He has been afforded the opportunity to sing roles in operas such as Angelotti in Tosca, Sarastro in Die Zauberflöte, Doctor 6 in The Falling and Rising, Norton in La Cambiale di Matrimonio, Nardo in La Finta Giardiniera, Dr. Dulcamara in L’elisir d’ amore , and Dick Deadeye in H.M.S. Pinafore. His musical credits include Smokey Joe’s Cafe and The Carousel. Ramelle is also a vibrant soloist with regional choruses and orchestras performing such works as Beethoven’s 9th and Duruflé’s Requiem. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Music in Performance from the University of South Carolina and a bachelor’s degree in Music Education (Voice K-12) from Fayetteville State University. Ramelle supplements his academic experience serving as Director of Music at Second Calvary Baptist Church in Columbia, South Carolina. He also holds membership in the National Association of Teachers of Singing and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Ramelle Brooks, Bass
Temperance Jones, Soprano
Temperance Jones is from Birmingham, Alabama. At an early age,Temperance learned to appreciate musical theatre from her mother, an artist and arts educator. Temperance received her Bachelor of Arts in Music from Belhaven University, with an emphasis in Musical Theatre. She has showcased her talent as a Young Artist in settings like International Performing Arts Institute, Bright Star Touring Theatre, Opera Mississippi, RWS Entertainment Group, and Opera Birmingham. From a mother's inspiration, to performing internationally, Temperance honors the legacies of the Black artists who came before her, and looks forward to the contributions she still has yet to make.
Temperance Jones, Soprano
Tiffany Williams, Soprano, is a native of Jackson, Mississippi. She received a Master of Music degree in voice performance from Jacobs School of Music, where she studied with world renowned mezzo-soprano Marietta Simpson. She received her bachelor’s degree in piano and voice performance from Jackson State University, where she studied with Dr. Phyllis Lewis-Hale and Dr. Karen Laubengayer. Tiffany made her debut with the Indiana University Opera Theatre
in Fall 2015 as Sister Rose in Jake Heggie’s Dead Man Walking. Other Indiana University Opera theatre appearances include Puccini's La Boheme and Bizet’s Carmen. She sang Joanna in Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd, Amina in Bellini’s La Sonnambula, and Norina in Donizetti’s Don Pasquale for Heidi Grant-Murphy’s opera workshop. She was featured as the soprano soloist in Ralph Vaughan Williams’, Serenade to Music with the Jacobs School of Music concert chorale. Other performances include, Nella in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi with the Mississippi Opera Company, Pamina in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, Manon in Massenet’s Manon, Gretel in Humperdink’s Hansel and Gretel with Jackson State University, and Susanna and Barbarina in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro with Blooming Voce in Bloomington, Indiana.
Although 2020 was a year of uncertainty and hardships, Tiffany had an exciting year competitively. She was named the first-place winner in the Southern Region NATS Young Artist Competition held in Jonesboro, Arkansas. She was a finalist in the National NATS Young Artist competition in New York City, New York. She received an encouragement award in the Memphis Metropolitan Opera Council competition. In 2018, she received the encouragement award in the South Carolina’s Metropolitan Opera Council competition. Other awards include first-place in the 105 Voices Competition at the Washington National Opera, The Classical Singer Magazine competition, NATS, and MMTA. Her international accomplishments include touring various parts of Germany as a concert soloist with Indiana University’s African American Chorale Ensemble and Spain with soprano Bridget Bazille. In 2019, she appeared as the guest soloist alongside Dr. Raymond Wise in A Gospel Experience: Building Community in Omaha, Nebraska. In Spring 2021, she was featured as the guest recitalist for the Vesper
Concert Series in Nebraska. She placed third in the national George Shirley Competition in May 2021. In Fall 2022, she joined the voice faculty at Jackson State University as a vocal instructor. From her beautiful, warm and lyrical voice to her sincere and expressive delivery of text, Tiffany is gaining national attention traveling and sharing her gift as a recitalist around the country.
Tiffany Williams, Soprano