Marietta Honors Kennesaw State Professor

The city of Marietta celebrated Black History Month by honoring Kennesaw State University voice and music literature professor Oral Moses for his accomplishments and contributions to the community at a city council meeting on March 6.

A member of KSU's voice faculty since 1984, Moses is a bass baritone and performs concert works, oratorio, recitals and a variety of art songs with an emphasis on vocal works by African-American composers regularly throughout the United States and Europe, according to a press release from the city of Marietta.

“When I first came to KSU, it was a very sparse campus, with only about six or seven buildings and less than 5,000 students," Moses said in a Kennesaw State University press release. What Moses liked most about the music program, now the School of Music, was that it was ready to grow. “There were always plans for improvement and growth; there was never a moment of rest or settling. It has been really fun to be a part of that growth.”

A South Carolina native, Moses began his singing career as a member of the United States Seventh Army Soldiers Chorus in Heidelberg, Germany, according to the city of Marietta press release. He attended Fisk University, where he was a member of the Fisk Jubilee Singers. When he returned to the United States, he attended the University of Michigan where he earned a Master of Music and Doctorate of Musical Arts in vocal performance and opera.

The Smyrna resident has recorded three CDs of art songs and spirituals by African-American composers, according to the city of Marietta press release. He is also an author and a frequent guest lecturer and clinician for gospel and spiritual music workshops and conferences.

"As an artist, my greatest personal accomplishment is to know that I’ve made a contribution to the world of music in some way," Moses said in the KSU press release. "As a teacher, my greatest accomplishment is seeing my students go on to realize their goals."

Marietta city leaders proclaimed Feb. 13 Dr. Oral Moses Day in Marietta.

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