Reginald Mobley
Reginald Mobley is an African-American countertenor. He was raised singing jazz and gospel music, but trained in the classical repertoire. He is best known for singing the works of Henry Purcell and Johann Sebastian Bach.[1] In 2023 he sang at the coronation of Charles III as well as at the BBC Proms.[2] He currently lives in Boston, Massachusetts.[3]
Early life and musical education
Mobley was born on 21 October 1977[4][3] and grew up in Gainesville, Florida where he attended Eastside High School and the University of Florida.[5] As a boy he sang at Gainesville's Bethel Seventh-day Adventist Church, and he discovered Bach while a high school student. He was also interested in art, and won an art scholarship to Davidson College in North Carolina. However a bout carpal tunnel syndrome led him to change artistic direction and he moved to the Seventh-day Adventist-affiliated Oakwood University in Huntsville, Alabama.[4] There he studied tenor singing. He later studied at the University of Florida in Gainesville with Jean Ronald LaFond and at the Florida State University in Tallahassee with Roy Delp.[3]
Performance history
Mobley has performed with the Baroque ensemble Apollo's Fire, and is a regular guest with the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, the Washington Bach Consort, Seraphic Fire, and Agave Baroque. With the latter, Reginald recorded a collection of spirituals entitled American Originals that was nominated for a 2022 GRAMMY Award. His first solo album, in May 2023 is also a selection of spirituals, performed in collaboration with pianist Baptiste Trotignon, entitled Because.[6]
Mobley has also taken roles in several musical theatre productions, including the title role in Rupert Holmes' Mystery of Edwin Drood, and Jacey Squires in Meredith Willson's The Music Man. In addition he has performed many cabaret shows and sets of jazz standards and torch songs in jazz clubs in and around Tokyo, Japan.[3]
Research into music by forgotten black composers
Mobley holds the position of visiting artist for diversity outreach with Apollo's Fire.[7] He has a strong interest in researching and performing the work of forgotten black composers, particularly Ignatius Sancho.[1]
https://cso.org/experience/article/7974/reginald-mobley-aims-to-make-the-world-of-ear
https://www.sfcv.org/articles/review/reginald-mobley-sings-war-and-peace-agave-baroque
https://news.liverpool.ac.uk/2022/11/09/108747/
References
- ^ a b Maddocks, Fiona (21 October 2021). "Reginald Mobley is digging deep for forgotten musical treasures". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
- ^ Wright, Steve. "Who performed at the Coronation?". classical-music.com. Classical Music. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
- ^ a b c d Oron, Aryeh. "Reginald Mobley (Counter-tenor)". bach-cantatas.com. Bach Cantatas Website. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
- ^ a b Manheim, James. "Reginald Mobley Biography". allmusic.com. ALLMUSIC. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
- ^ "A Gainesville man performed at King Charles' coronation". WCJB. 7 May 2023. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
- ^ Wright, Steve. "Who is Reginald Mobley, the countertenor singing at the Coronation and 2023 BBC Proms?". classical-music.com. Classical Music. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
- ^ "Reginald Mobley". Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Retrieved 9 September 2023.