I am a lyric soprano. Although I have performed art songs and operatic arias in recitals around the United States, my interest has turned towards the concert performance of Negro Spirituals. I have begun presenting recitals and lecture recitals on spirituals. Most of this activity is part of my research project called The Art of the Negro Spiritual. (More about this below.)

My next scheduled recital, with pianist Pat Saxton, is on Sunday, May 4, 2008, at St. Petri Evangelical Lutheran Church, 804 Grand Avenue, Story City, Iowa. This 4:00 p.m. program includes excerpts from Handel's Messiah, Schubert's "Ave Maria," "Alleluia" from Mozart's Exsultate, Jubilate, John Carter's Cantata, and spirituals by Hall Johnson, H. T. Burleigh, Moses Hogan, Uzee Brown, and Betty Jackson King.

My most recent recital featured works by G. F. Handel, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Felix Mendelssohn, William Grant Still, John Carter, Samuel Barber, Roland Hayes, Hall Johnson, Margaret Bonds, H. T. Burleigh, Betty Jackson King, and Uzee Brown. An excerpt from this program, John Carter's Cantata, can be heard by clicking on this link.

The most recent Art of the Negro Spiritual programs were based on works by composers born in the years immediately following the American Civil War----children of former slaves and pioneers of the spiritual art songs from Burleigh and Hall Johnson to Boatner and Lawrence--on November 4, 2007. The second part, on Sunday, April 6, 2008, featured composers born in the 20th century and included Margaret Bonds' Five Creek-Freedman Spirituals plus works by Smith Moore, Perry, Kerr, Morris, Smith, Jackson King, Brown, Thompson Corley, Hogan, and Carter. Both recitals were performed with pianist William Tinker.

These recitals serve as an opportunity to share the music created by pioneers, such Burleigh's "Deep River". I also explore works by contemporary composers of spiritual art songs, including a solo vocal setting of "I Want Jesus to Walk with Me," which was composed especially for me by Maria Thompson Corley. I invite you to look at one of the Recital Programs.

I have also enjoyed opportunities to present recitals featuring both American and European composers. Click to view program or click to listen to Rachmaninoff's "Vocalise" recorded during one of those programs. If you would like to have this program presented in your locale, call me at 641-821-0188.

Other upcoming performances and/or lectures will be announced on this site. Please check regularly for more information.

I released my debut recording, Come Down Angels, in August 2003. The CD includes spiritual art songs by composers Edward Boatner, Margaret Bonds, H. T. Burleigh, John Carter, Maria Corley, R. Nathaniel Dett, Roland Hayes, Hall Johnson, Betty Jackson King, Robert Mac Gimsey, Undine Smith Moore, Julia Perry, and Hale Smith. The recording comes from live performances I presented accompanied by pianist Francis Conlon. To order copies of the compact disc, visit AhhJay Music at www.ahhjayrecords.com.

Musical Selections Performed by Randye Jones:
This Little Light of Mine by Hale Smith (with Francis Conlon, piano)
I Want Jesus to Walk with Me by Maria Thompson Corley (with Gregory Thompson, piano)
Vocalise, op. 34, no. 14, by Sergei Rachmaninoff (with Timothy Newton, piano)
Deep River by Harry T. Burleigh (with Timothy Newton, piano)
Calvary by Betty Jackson King (with William Tinker, piano)