The Delta Democrat-Times from Greenville, Mississippi • Page 3

Black 'Aida' battles odds Servicemen Delta Democrat-Times Greenville. Minlssippi Sunday, May 2,1971 By PHILIP D.HEARN JACKSON, Miss. (UPI)-College students and professional singers are readying their all-black production of the opera "Aida." The opera will be staged May 7 by a new production company called Opera South. Backers hope the premiere and subsequent productions will serve as a springboard for talent in the native slate of Metropolitan Opera star Leontyne Price. "This country has a record of not supporting the arts," said Estus Smith, chairman of the Mississippi Intercollegiaie Opera Guild which sponsors Opera South.

"Segregation of the races in Mississippi hasn'thelped," Smith said. "It held back both groups. I know there are people who won't support the production Because it has an all-black cast, but I guess I'm an optimist. I believe there are enough poople of good will who want to see a first-rite opera." Approximately 200 students are directly or indirectly involved in the production. The three colleges combining talent and resources in Opera South are predominantly black.

"But Opera South will not be restricted to blacks," Smith added. Smith also is dean of the school of liberal studies at Jackson State College, largest of the three institutions participating in Opera South. The other two are Utica Junior College and privately-supported Tougaloo College. The dean recalled that it was at Jackson fit tfvwatcifte "SPECIAL NURSING ROUND THE CLOCK" FERS THE ATMOSPHERE OF A Skilled Nursing Care Facility For Me Aged O.c CONVALESCENTS NOW ACCEPTING PATIENTS 60 BED FACJLITY DIAL 335-4702 520. Solomon St.

GREENVILLE Certified For Medicaid private Patients State in the early 1950s where a young Negro 'girl, fresh out of high school at Laurel, was refused a $60-per-year music scholarship because a music director did not want to take the time for an audition. The young girl was Leontyne Price. "There is talent in Mississippi, but we have not provided an opportunity in this state for development of this talent," Smith said. "Had it not been for a fortunate series of circumstances Leontyne Price would not have had the chance to develop her talent. How many other Leontynes do we have in the state, both black and white? "Opera South is an attempt to develop talent We need to provide the avenues for performing.

The purpose of Opera South is to open doors. It is a training ground." Smith said the three colleges involved in Opera South had been interested for some time in putting on some kind of musical production, but none of the institutions had the volume of talent or money to swing it alone. "The idea was tossed around they finally got together about September of last year," he said. The conductor, director, lead role performers and musicians have been contracted to provide a nucleus for the production of "Aida." Students will fill the minor roles and supply a ISO-member chorus. Donald Dorr, designer-director for the New Orleans Opera, will design and stage the production.

The director will be Walter Hebert, general director of Houston Grand Opera and San Diego Opera. They are both white. Lead roles will be filled by black professionals Emma Goldman as Aida, Ruby Jones as Amneris, Joseph Bias as Amonasro and Robert Honeysucker as Ramfis in the Verdi work. Only Honeysucker is a native Mississippian, although Miss Goldman has served as a voice instructor and opera workshop director at Jackson State for a number of years. Opera South must depend heavily on donations for existence.

A campaign for funds has been aimed at the white community as well as black, but the response has not been overwhelming. Of the $15,000 needed to stage the production, Smith said only $9,000 had been raised by mid-April. "The institutions are supplying some money and we are cutting costs at every possible angle," he said. "We haven't had the white support thus far that is needed--the $1,000 and $500 donations. But we hope to become self-sustaining.

There are several national foundations which make endowments available to existing operas." Smith believes that with proper support Opera South could be a first-rate production company within three to five years. His definition of a first rate opera is simple: "One you could put on at the Met without i making any apologies--one people would pay their money and go to Lincoln Center to hear." Sandra Mitchell SAN ANTONIO--Airman Sandra L. Mitchell, daughter of Mrs. Malissa Y. Mitchell of 232 N.

Seventh Greenville, has completed basic training at Lackland Sandra Mitchell AFB, Tex. She has been assigned to Sheppard AFB, for training as a medical services specialist. Airman Mitchell, a 1968 graduate of Cbleman High School, attended Tougaloo (Miss.) College. Fred E. Nicholson CAMP LEJUNE, N.C.--Marine Col.

Fred E. Nicholson, son of Mrs. Josephine Carlock of 907 S. Freeman Dermott, was promoted to his present rank while serving at Marine Corps, Base, Camp Lejeune, N. C.

P. D. Sherrod Jr. CAM RANK BAY, Vietnam--Army Sergeant First Class P. D.

Sherrod whose parents live at 1000 Parklane Drive, Hollandale, recently was assigned to the 61st military Police Company, 73rd Signal Battalion of the 21st Signal Group near Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam. Sgt. Sherrod is first sergeant of the company. Samuel E. Goods FT.

HOOD, E. Goods, 21, son of Mrs. Laura Goods, 527 Palermo Greenville, recently was promoted to army private first class at Ft. Hood, where he is serving with the 13th Support Brigade. Pvt.

Goods, a telephone repairman in the 647th maintenance company of the brigade's 169th Maintenance Battalion, entered the army in May 1970, completed basic training at Ft. Polk, and was last stationed at Ft. Gordon, Ga. Larry J. Smith ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, J.

Smith, 21, son of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Smith, Shaw, recently was promoted to army specialist four at Arlington Heights, while assigned to the 45th Artilllery Brigade. Spec. 4 Smith is assigned to the Brigade's Headquarters Battery.

His wife, Flora, lives in Chicago, HI. Claude M. Marchesini ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md -Army 2nd Lt. Claude M. Marchesini, 23, son of Mr.

and Mrs. John C. Marcheiini, 816 Mayer Greenville, recently completed a nine-week ordnance officer basic course at the U. S. Army Ordnance Center and School, Aberdeen Proving Ground.

Lt. Marchesini is a I960 graduate of St. Joseph High School, and a 1971 graduate of Mississippi State University, where he received a B. S. degree in electrical engineering.

He is a member of Phi Kappa Tau fraternity. Prior to entering the army, he was employed by Magico Electronic Engineering, as an assistant engineer. Tony J. Reginelli CAT LAI, Vietnam--Tony J. Reginelli, 19, son of Mr.

and Mrs. Tony Reginelli, Star Route 1, Lake Village, was recently promoted to army specialist four while serving with the 159th Transportation Battalion near Cat Lai, Vietnam. Spec. Reginelli is a mechanic in the battalion's Headquarters Detachment. William D.

Kersh FT. JACKSON, S. C--Army Private William D. Kersh, 20, son of Mr. and Mrs.

Robert L. Kersh, Route 1, Leland, recently completed eight weeks of advanced individual training at Ft. Jackson, S. C. PVt.

Kersh received instruction in the tactics and techniques of the infantry. He also became a specialist in handling such weapons as the M-16 rifle and the M-60 machine gun. Robert L. McPherson TAEGU, Korea--Army Captain Robert L. McPherson, 20, son of Mr.

and Mrs. John L. McPherson, Route 2, Rolling Fork, recently was awarded a certificate of achievement while serving with the Petroleum Distribution System, Korea, near Taegu. He earned the award for meritorious service as an officer in charge of the Pohang Petroleum, Oils, and Lubricants Terminal. The captain's wife, Marl, is with him in Korea.

Walter R. Adams ORLANDO, Fla. Navyman Walter R. Adams, son of Mr. and Mrs.

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