b. 1941

Adolphus C. Hailstork


Adolphus C. Hailstork
A native of Rochester, New York, Adolphus C. Hailstork is a prolific composer of instrumental and vocal music and has held several positions at prominent instututions of higher learning.

Listen

“Decisions” (from “Songs of Love and Justice”)
Colleen Cole Beucher, soprano; Josh Marzan, piano2:51

Adolphus Hailstork

Composer

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Poet(s)/Writer(s)

2022

Date

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Location

This recording was part of a concert during the American Song Institute 2022, which took place on the campus of the University of Michigan.

“Decisions” (from “Songs of Love and Justice”)
Deborah Selig, soprano; Jeffrey Sykes, piano2:39

Adolphus Hailstork

Composer

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Poet(s)/Writer(s)

2022

Date

Irvine, California

Location

This recording was part of a 1pm concert ("Fires of Justice") on Friday, October 14, 2022 during the 25th Anniversary African American Art Song Alliance Conference. The concert venue was Winifred Smith Hall at the University of California, Irvine.

“Difficulties” (from “Songs of Love and Justice”)
Deborah Selig, soprano; Jeffrey Sykes, piano2:48

Adolphus Hailstork

Composer

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Poet(s)/Writer(s)

2022

Date

Irvine, California

Location

This recording was part of a 1pm concert ("Fires of Justice") on Friday, October 14, 2022 during the 25th Anniversary African American Art Song Alliance Conference. The concert venue was Winifred Smith Hall at the University of California, Irvine.

“If I Can Stop One Heart From Breaking” (from “Summer.Life.Song”)
Christine Amon, mezzo-soprano; Sara Chiesa, piano2:31

Adolphus Hailstork

Composer

Emily Dickinson

Poet(s)/Writer(s)

2021

Date

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Location

This recording was made possible by a grant from the University of Michigan, as part of the "Black Composer Speaks" Project.

“Justice” (from “Songs of Love and Justice”)
Deborah Selig, soprano; Jeffrey Sykes, piano3:26

Adolphus Hailstork

Composer

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Poet(s)/Writer(s)

2022

Date

Irvine, California

Location

This recording was part of a 1pm concert ("Fires of Justice") on Friday, October 14, 2022 during the 25th Anniversary African American Art Song Alliance Conference. The concert venue was Winifred Smith Hall at the University of California, Irvine.

“Longing” (from “Four Romantic Love Songs”)
Bo Shimmin, tenor; Sara Chiesa, piano4:30

Adolphus Hailstork

Composer

Paul Laurence Dunbar

Poet(s)/Writer(s)

2021

Date

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Location

This recording was made possible by a grant from the University of Michigan, as part of the "Black Composer Speaks" Project.

“Love” (from “Songs of Love and Justice”)
Deborah Selig, soprano; Jeffrey Sykes, piano4:03

Adolphus Hailstork

Composer

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Poet(s)/Writer(s)

2022

Date

Irvine, California

Location

This recording was part of a 1pm concert ("Fires of Justice") on Friday, October 14, 2022 during the 25th Anniversary African American Art Song Alliance Conference. The concert venue was Winifred Smith Hall at the University of California, Irvine.

About

Adolphus Hailstork received his doctorate in composition from Michigan State University, where he was a student of H. Owen Reed. He had previously studied at the Manhattan School of Music, under Vittorio Giannini and David Diamond, at the American Institute at Fontainebleau with Nadia Boulanger, and at Howard University with Mark Fax. Dr. Hailstork has written numerous works for chorus, solo voice, piano, organ, various chamber ensembles, band, and orchestra. His works for solo voice include the cycles: Summer. Life. Song., Three Spirit Songs, Ventriloquist Acts of God, Songs of Love and Justice, and Four Romantic Love Songs. Additionally, prominent solo roles are included in large choral works such as I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes, Done Made My Vow, and Crispus Attucks. His operas include Paul Laurence Dunbar: Common Ground, Joshua’s Boots: An Opera for Young People, and We Rise for Freedom: The John Parker Story.

​—African American Art Song Alliance 2017 Conference program booklet

Video

Records

2022

Fires of Justice

David N. Baker, B. E. Boykin, Adolphus C. Hailstork, Andre Myers, Shawn E. Okpebholo, Robert Owens, Dave Ragland

Sheet Music