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Marty Kirkman – Camp Director and Event Manager: Kirkman’s career spans over 30 years as a professional working in Music and Event Management. Kirkman has worked in all phases of the Music Industry, as an Agent, a Tour Manager, a Record Label executive, a Recording Studio employee, a Promoter, and ultimately as an Artist Manager. He has produced literally hundreds of concerts and events, working with artists that range from young groups with star potential to Multi-Platinum Grammy Award winners. The Event side of his career has spanned from Music to Management Training to Organic Farming. Kirkman currently manages the career of young rising stars, Dwayne Dopsie & The Hellraisers. He also performs as a singer and musician in two different ensembles and is on the board of a Blues Festival in Osnabrück. Kirkman is also occaisionally in the recording studio, doing commercials, presentations and film voice overs. Meller Kreisblatt Artikel Menschvon Nebenan |
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Brigitte Stumpf-Gieselmann – Musical Coordinator : Brigitte Stumpf-Gieselmann began her classical music education in Germany, singing Cantatas from J.S.Bach, playing piano, guitar, viola, and other instruments. From 1984 -87 she studied Music Therapy in Vienna, Austria. There the foundation was laid for her for musical improvisation, percussion and making spontaneous music from the heart. In 1994, she began singing Gospel music with a group of singers in the Protestant Parish where her husband was minister, and founded the formation The Acappella Gospeltrain . From 1999 – 2007 she founded, conducted and built up a larger Gospel choir “Gospel and More (GAM) in Halle/Westfalia, Germany. During that time period with ‘GAM', Stumpf-Gieselmann initiated and led several projects, including the choir for the county Church celebration at Gerry Weber stadium, where more than 400 singers were on stage singing with a well known Gospel Artist in Germany. A journey to New Orleans in 2005 with Marty Kirkman and other choir members was the key for her to understand much more of the origin of Gospel music. She experienced that Gospel music in New Orleans carries a special way of communication, of personal expression, of life, which is sang in the here and now. Her current professional focus is musical leadership through choir projects with people of various ages, combining singing from the heart with movement and bodywork. Stumpf-Gieselmann also conducts several choirs, including the children's choir “Gospelkids ” and offers “free singing” courses in Münster , Germany. |
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Al Bemiss – Camp Choir Leader: Al Bemiss has had a long and productive career in sacred and secular music. Al Bemiss’ father was the Reverend Walter Bemiss, whose ministry was located at Fifth African Baptist Church, on South Robertson Street in New Orleans. Fifth African Baptist provided the incubation for a love for music, performance, and spiritual training. Al began playing organ solos at his father's church with his instructor, William Houston, Jr.. Al played with a string of bands in the late 60s and 70s which developed his early pop style, most notably with Johnny Taylor and Candi Staton. Al has worked as pianist for Clarence "Frogman" Henry nearly 20 years. Additionally, Al was the music director and pianist with the touring cast of "One Mo' Time." During that time, he also performed sacred music, his sustenance, both culturally and spiritually. Al has played music at many churches in New Orleans. He is currently Director of the multi-cultural New Orleans Gospel Choir, Shades of Praise. Al teaches music eagerly, passing on his tremendous gifts. Shades Of Praise: Let Your Light Shine (Quick Time Video) |
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Clyde Lawrence – Collaboration Choir Director: Singing is life itself to Clyde Lawrence. The very core of his being is so packaged by musical notes that he was nicknamed “Mr. Music” by a friend years ago. Lawrence was never one of those youngsters whose idea of the future changed with the seasons. His calling came when he was barely out of diapers. By 4 years old, Lawrence had sung his first solo with the Nazarene Missionary Baptist Church choir, still one of his primary locations for song. “I sang ‘Let Jesus Fix It for You.’ I remember it like it was yesterday,” Lawrence says of his 1967 debut. Now, 42 years later, spiritual music is still his favorite material and he uses his voice and his time to inspire others. Like many local musical geniuses, he shares his talent with New Orleans students, helping keep the city’s musical heritage alive. He is currently Choir Director of McMain Middle School’s Gospel Choir, the Singing Mustangs. And Lawrence’s passion is indeed alive in his students. Lawrence knows, as all good teachers know, there’s more to teaching that classroom instruction. Instruction is easy. Inspiration is not. Under his direction, however, McMain’s 42-member choir is inspiring enough to have been invited to perform at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival for the past few years. Teaching is never a 9-to-5 job but Lawrence’s day stretches into evenings and weekends. In addition to teaching six classes a day, his student choir stages numerous performances at conventions and graduation ceremonies. To keep his own skills in top shape, he sings at private events, directs his church choir, sings with the New Orleans Black Chorale group and participates in the New Orleans Society of Musicians. He is also the president of the board of directors for the Gospel Soul Children, a gospel choir composed of teenagers and young adults. |
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Barbara Frazier – Camp Pianist/Organist : Barbara Frazier is the mother of one of the first familes of musical heritage in New Orleans. Nicknamed Mama ReBirth , she is the mother of Keith and Phil Frazier. The two brothers are founding members of the ReBirth Brass Band, a group that exploded in popularity with their gigantic regional hit Do Whatcha Wanna in the mid 1980's. Frazier's youngest son, the late Kerwin James, was the founder of of another dynamic young Brass Band in New Orleans called Newbirth. Kerwin died as a result of a massive stroke after Katrina that left him bed ridden in the years after the hurricane. Both ReBirth and Newbirth have enjoyed worldwide success. Barbara has not only been mother to her musical family, she has been a musical teacher to them as well. Opening her house to Brass Band rehearsals and giving feedback on how to arrange the music better was part of her daily life. A former professional piano teacher, Frazier continues to play music in virtually every church she has attended. Currently a member of the Christian Mission Baptist Church in the Sixth Ward, Frazier is often asked to sit in for the church's regular organist or pianist. Frazier is considered by Camp Director Marty Kirkman to be his second mom. Beat Street Article about 'Mama ReBirth' |
