THE UNSUNG
Directed by Tyrone Clinton Jr., The Unsung is a community-based music collective devoted to celebrating stories of the Black experience. Through contemporary choral music, The Unsung navigates countless stories that are the true fabric of historical and current events. The Unsung is comprised of members from the New York City area, and designed to stretch the confines of music of the Western canon.
This ensemble and its members are born of the same community that bears the music by which these stories are told. As a result, The Unsung is dedicated to serving the NYC community through song, educating its audiences and fostering relationships with those that are willing to listen.
Tyrone has conducted several projects in the United States. He was a guest artist for the Cornell University Chamber singers in Maui, Hawaii (2018). He conducted Henryk Górecki’s Symphony No. 3 for the American Cancer Society and led his Strange Fruit concert at Northwestern University honoring young victims subjected to police brutality (2016). Tyrone also served as chorus master for Northwestern’s production of Carlisle Floyd’s Susannah. As a product of the Atlanta University Center and proud Morehouse Man, Tyrone has conducted the Atlanta University Center Orchestra, both Morehouse College and Spelman College Glee Clubs and the Clark Atlanta Philharmonic Society.
As a choral singer, Tyrone has recorded on the soundtrack for Spike Lee’s movie Miracle at St. Anna. He had the honor to sing before two United States Presidents and has had the privilege to share the stage with the late Aretha Franklin, Jessye Norman, Twinkie Clark, Bo Diddley, Fantasia Barrino, Andrea Bocelli, Idina Minzel, and Denyce Graves.
A native of Brooklyn, NY, Tyrone has returned to New York City to join the choral community in hopes to share music unique to his experience. He is a graduate of Morehouse College (BA), Ohio State University (MM), and Northwestern University (DMA). In recent years, he is the first Black recipient of the Frank Huntington Beebe Fund for Musicians (2016-2017) where he completed his dissertation research in Mexico and Spain on the Baroque Villancico de negro subgenre. He is currently an educator in the NYC area.
THE MISSION
To be a uniting force in the community by programming music that shares the adversities and strengths of people of color.
To spread awareness and educate audiences on diversity by promoting the works of minority composers and creating a platform for world-class musicians of color to practice and perform their art.
To stretch the confinements of choral music born of the Western art tradition.