Leontyne Price

God means for us to rightly use what He gives us.

Today's post is about a woman I never met, but who made an indelible impact on my character, by the sheer focus of devotion to what she called, "the voice," the beautiful gift God gave her. I heard her sing once in person, saw her on television, and have recordings (33 rpm) and CDs of her music that have given me great pleasure for many years.

Her name is Leontyne Price, the great soprano, the first African American singer to achieve international stardom in opera. Hear her talk about her background and "the voice," on this video of an interview with her in 2008 when she was 81 years old -- you won't believe she's 81 - you. will. not. believe. it.

Born in 1927 in Laurel, Mississippi, Ms. Price was encouraged by her parents in a desire to sing which was born in her by seeing a performance of Marian Anderson in Jackson, MS, when she was a child. She studied at the famous Julliard School of Music. You can read about her here. She received personal training from Florence Page Kimball who was mentor, teacher, and friend to her. It was Kimball who taught her the secret of caring for one's gift so that the gift could actually last a lifetime. She thought of the approach as singing out of her "interest" instead of her "capital." There's something profound in that concept.

Let's say your gift is teaching. You cannot live your whole life through that gift. You cannot teach 100% of the time and not begin to fray the gift at the edges! Price knew this about her voice. She refused roles when "the voice" was tired - and she learned to know her limits. Her gift had to be nurtured to thrive.

She taught me this: A gift of God must be tended to let the glory shine. Yes, you can squander a gift for a time, but then, well, life catches up. So if God has given you a wife or husband who loves you, a talent for speaking,or leading a team, hands of mercy or skill, the mind of an engineer or the heart of a farmer - shepherd the gift.

Leontyne Price values "the Man upstairs" and one of Ms. Price's most memorable performances was sung after her performing career had ended, at a Gala honoring Richard Tucker in 2001, at the age of 74. She sang a difficult acapella rendition of "God Bless America." And the orchestra members stood as she sang. I hope you will take the time to enjoy this God-honoring performance by a woman, true to her art, who honored her gift.

"Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him." Psalm 33: 1