5-Time Grammy Award Winner, Jessye Norman to Receive Honorary Street Naming

The unveiling ceremony and reception marking the honorary street naming of 8th Street, in downtown Augusta, Georgia, to Jessye Norman Boulevard will take place with family, guests, and dignitaries from 4pm to 5pm on Friday, October 11th, in front of the arts school bearing her name. (The Jessye Norman School of the Arts located at 739 Greene Street.) Jessye Norman is expected to be in attendance.

Ms. Norman grew up in Augusta, Georgia attending C.T. Walker Elementary, A.R. Johnson Junior High, and Lucy Craft Laney High School. Ms. Norman studied music and graduated from Howard University. She continued graduate studies at the Peabody Conservatory and received her master’s degree in 1968 from the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre, and Dance at Ann Arbor. Her impact in the world of opera, classical music, American standards, spirituals, and jazz has been profound. Performing steadily from 1966 until today, and earning 5 Grammy awards, more than 30 honorary doctorates, along with medals, prizes and awards in Canada, Austria, Israel, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, and the United States, Ms. Norman’s artistic and humanitarian achievements are recognized and applauded around the world. Her memoir, Stand Up Straight and Sing!, was released in 2014.

In 2003, with the help of Ms. Norman, The Jessye Norman School of the Arts opened its doors to bring high quality arts enrichment to the children of Augusta. The school will hold its annual benefit concert on October 13, 2019, at the Miller Theater in downtown Augusta, Georgia. Critically acclaimed performer Audra McDonald will perform and Jessye Norman is expected to be in attendance.