麻豆社

School of Music

Alfonzo 鈥淎l鈥� Cooper

Alfonzo 鈥淎l鈥� Cooper, Jr., D.M.A.
Assistant Professor
C.T Vivian Diversity Teaching Scholar in Vocal Performance
Browne Studio (A)
Email: A-Cooper@wiu.edu

Alfonzo 鈥淎l鈥� Cooper Jr. is an active vocalist, recitalist, and educator. He currently serves as Assistant Professor of Voice and Director of 麻豆社 Opera Theatre. He joined the faculty Fall of 2021 where he teaches Applied Voice, Music Education Courses, Diction, and Opera Workshop. He is also the Coordinator for 麻豆社 COFAC Young Artist Awards Program.

Throughout his career, Cooper has accomplished much in the realms of voice and performing. He has been featured on multiple stages across the U.S. Some of his significant accomplishments as a singer and scholar include performing and competing as a soloist in the 105 Voices of History Choir at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC., the 2014-2015 Winner of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln School of Music Concerto/Aria Solo Competition, presenting and performing for the faculty and students of Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, Virginia, and his alma mater, Albany State University in Albany, Georgia.

Cooper, a tenor, has sung major roles in both oratorio and operatic literature. This includes Handel's Messiah, J.S. Bach's Magnificat, Strauss' Die Fledermaus, Offenbach's Les Contes D'Hoffmann, Donizetti's Don Pasquale. One of Dr. Cooper's most noted performances is the recital presented in honor of the former National President of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Dr. Paulette Walker. Dr. Cooper has studied and coached with several prominent figures in the vocal world. Names include: Leroy Bynum, Jr., Linda Bannister, Angela Blalock, Barbra Hendricks, AGT's Travis Pratt, Peter Strummer, Rachael Copeland-Skiba, and William Shomos. A true southerner and native of Georgia, Cooper champions the music of African Americans. His research focuses on the impact of the African American experience and Black Church culture and its influence on classical music. The title of his dissertation is 鈥淭his is How We Do It鈥�: A Descriptive Analysis of the Musical Elements and the Black Church Cultural Influences in Adolphus Hailstork's I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes: A Cantata for Tenor, Choir and Chamber Orchestra.

Cooper holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music (Voice) from Albany State University; a Historically Black College & University (HBCU) in Southwest Georgia, and both Masters (2015) and Doctoral (2020) degrees from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Cooper holds memberships in the

National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), National Association of Negro Musicians (NANM), Pi Kappa Lambda International Honor Music Society, Inc., Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity, Inc., and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated.