Opera Ebony is the longest surviving African-American opera company in American history. From performances of Mozart in Harlem to African-American Heritage concerts in Iceland - Gershwin in Moscow to Duke Ellington in the Caribbean, Opera Ebony is considered one of the world's great cultural treasures. Benjamin Matthews, Sister Mary Elise S.B.S. and Wayne Sanders founded Opera Ebony in 1973. Wayne Sanders said from his New York apartment, “Change has been the true test,” he adds, “It’s about keeping the quality of service up top par.”
Wayne Sanders is co-founder of Opera Ebony, Inc., and has served as the company's Music Director since its inception in 1973. Under his direction, the company has gained an international prominence, performing in the United States, Europe, South America, Canada and the Caribbean.
As vocal coach and accompanist, Mr. Sanders has performed for televised Opera Ebony concerts worldwide and appeared at some of the world’s most important music festivals including the Spoleto Festival in Italy and the Savolinna Festival in Finland. At leading venues such as The Kennedy Center (Washington D.C.) and Carnegie Hall (New York City), he has accompanied such superstars as Jessye Norman, Florence Quivar, Kathleen Battle, George Shirley, William Brown, Hilda Harris, Jorma Hynnenin, Benjamin Matthews and Jubilant Sykes.
In New York City, Opera Ebony has performed at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, the Brooklyn Academy of Music (651 Performing Arts Center), The Metropolitan Museum of Art,The World Trade Center, The Beacon Theatre, Langston Hughes Theatre (Schomburg Center for Research and Black Culture) and the Manhattan Center. Additionally, for ten years the company presented grand opera at Philadelphia's Academy of Music.
Black History Month 2001, the company joined with the Metropolitan Museum of Art to present the premiere workshop performance of Harriet Tubman, a new opera / musical theatre work by acclaimed American composer, Leo Edwards.
Notable world premieres and commissioned works include Frederick Douglass (Dorothy Rudd Moore, 1985); Sojourner Truth (Valerie Capers, 1986); The Outcast (Noah Ain, 1990); Oh Freedom (Lena McLin and Benjamin Matthews, 1990); Journin' (Benjamin Matthews 1991); The Meetin' (Pamela Baskin Watson, commissioned by Opera Ebony and the Jerome Foundation, 1998).
Current projects include Harriet Tubman by Leo Edwards (commissioned by Opera Ebony and the Linda Gale Sampson Charitable Trust) and the remounting of The Meetin' for touring throughout North America.
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