Newspapers / The Carolina Times (Durham, … / Oct. 9, 1982, edition 1 / Page 21
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Optober JO - tf, m Canduk una I Vivian By Shelia Bumpass In a relative few years, Vi vian Walker has strode boldly through Operatic doors crack ed by Marian Anderson and wedged wider by Leontyne Price. And once through them, she has not looked back, and even now, Mrs. Walker, contralto, who performed in a debut recital over the summer at Carnegie Hall, . reveals no in tentions of any movement ex cept up. But "up" is not a new direc tion for Mrs." Walker, who lives in Chapel Hill with her husband,. Ernest. It started in the Delta country of Mississip' Huey Walker Strides Forward In Opera ' 'Is v '": "; j li i mi- i. ii. ...in i . ; The youngest daughter in a family of 11 , Mrs. Walker also felt that ,her talent paled when compared to the musical talents of her brothers and sisters. "I thought I was the-least talented, in the family," she said. "I never really became a good pianist, but most of my brothers and sisters did." Music was a key part of her family as she grew up. Both of her ; parents were school teachers, and both of them lik ed, sang and played classical music. The music-bug bit the young Vivian, creating fantasies of exotic performances in places such as the San Francisco Mrs. Vivian Huey Walker Opera House and the Metropolitan - Opera House. But as quickly as they came, she shrugged them off. But by the time she got to college at 15 years old, lured by a full vocal scholarship, Mrs. Walker knew the music bug had become a lifelong companion. "In college," she recalled, "one of my professors told me I had something special, and I had no better sense than to believe him." College was the real beginn ng. While at Rust College in Holly Springs, Mississippi, on a . full scholarship, Mrs. Walker toured as a soloist with its sextet and a capella choir. following graduation at Rust, Mrs. Walker went to Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York for graduate studies. Slowly, she says, she began gaining the confidence that she leeded to perform. While living in Poughkeep sie with her husband, her chief supporter, Mrs. Walker also studied at the Lola Hayes Studio. She participated in opera workshops, and quickly moved on to recitals. This was all part of the move to Carnegie HalU The move wasn't easy, but Mrs. Walker says her deter mination carried her over many major obstacles. "If I don't get something at one particular time," she said. "I believe there is a definite reason for it. And if things don't work out, I just assume that they weren't for me at that particular time. But I keep plugging away, keep moving forward." Much of her forward move ment these days is northward every two 4 weeks when Mrs. Walker travels to New York for sessions with her voice coach. When asked how she handles it all, which includes a career, a family and various community projects, Mrs. Walker says simply: "A very resourceful person can handle anything' with good support and encouragement."
The Carolina Times (Durham, N.C.)
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Oct. 9, 1982, edition 1
21
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