Carolyn Black-Sotir

Biography

Carolyn Black-Sotir is a versatile artist performing in and directing opera, oratorio, recital, musical theatre and cabaret. The Philadelphia Inquirer characterizes her as “brilliant, shining, expressive and confident,” while the Baltimore Sun describes her as “a wonderful singer, with beautiful tone and excellent diction; her portrayal is spontaneous and superbly characterized.”
 
As guest artist, Carolyn has sung with the region’s finest orchestras and is in demand on the university and concert circuits presenting programs ranging from the lieder of Alban Berg to the songs of Irving Berlin. Carolyn’s hallmark is her innovative and collaborative programming. 

Carolyn works as a producer and director of opera and musical theatre. Most recently she served as producer, writer, director, and singer for Bravo! Bernstein on Broadway featuring the Peabody Orchestra. In collaboration with Center Stage, she produced a new work: Shadowboxer, an American opera about boxing legend Joe Louis. She is the Founder and Artistic Director of AMTA, an eclectic mix of musical and theatrical artists dedicated to the keeping the Great American Songbook alive today and into the future.

Prior to her recent return to the Music Department at Towson University, Carolyn was a member of the Voice Faculty at Morgan State University. She is in demand as a clinician, conducting numerous master classes and workshops. 

Carolyn’s commitment to the arts is illustrated in numerous advocacy efforts. Currently, she serves as Chair of the Baltimore County Commission on Arts and Sciences. She hosts the arts television program Kaleidoscope as well as numerous PBS specials.  She wrote, co-edited, and co-produced a documentary on American opera composer Dominick Argento, which aired on Minnesota Public Television. She co-founded The Steinway Series at Silo Hill, dedicated to reinventing the live classical music experience while raising awareness and research funds for Parkinson’s.

Dr. Black-Sotir is a magna cum laude graduate of Eastman School of Music with Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in vocal performance and literature. She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in voice performance with a special concentration in directing from University of Maryland.