Send-off concert for singer Caleb Wright planned for Sept. 8
On Friday, Sept. 8, local musical ensembles Elégie and The Wright Family Singers will join Chandra Turner and Jessica Yafanaro in a farewell concert for Caleb A. Wright, a well-known local singer who is moving to Los Angeles to further his career. The 7:30 p.m. concert at Mt. Zion Congregational Church (10723 Magnolia Blvd. in University Circle) will be accompanied by Cleveland musicians Anne Wilson, Cerena Mangum, Rodney Hubbard and Lacretia Bolden II.
Caleb Wright has been active in the musical community in Cleveland since 2007, beginning as a soloist at Forest Hill Presbyterian Church in Cleveland Heights. He attended Cleveland Heights High School, where he served as president of The Heights Singers and The A Cappella Choir under director Craig McGaughey. He was also a founding member of The Heights High Barbershoppers.
Upon graduation, Wright moved to New York City to study at The American Musical and Dramatic Academy, performing there and in Washington, D.C., Virginia and Los Angeles. A classically trained bass-baritone, Wright has also studied with Carolyn Smith and Richard Anderson, both alumni of Oberlin Conservatory of Music.
Wright returned to Cleveland in 2013 and has been a member and featured soloist of the Forest Hill Church Chancel Choir, Imani Temple Choir, Antioch Baptist Church Choir, PK Jones Ensemble, First Baptist Church of Greater Cleveland Chancel Choir, Cleveland Men of Song, Cleveland Orchestra Chorus, Cleveland Orchestra Chamber Chorus, Voices of Koinonia Choir and Praise Team, Mt. Zion of Oakwood Village Choir, The Cleveland Chamber Society, and The Singers Club of Cleveland.
He has also participated in such Cleveland opera and musical theater companies as Karamu House, Mercury Theatre, and The Cleveland Inspiration Project.
Wright's passion has been singing with Elégie and the internationally acclaimed Wright Family Singers. Elégie is the male quartet that Wright formed with fellow musicians Brian Barron, Mist'a Craig and Michael Hives. Spanning all musical genres, Elégie has been a noted force in the Cleveland music scene since its inception in 2013.
The Wright Family Singers ensemble includes Wright's grandmother, Mother Willie-Mae Wright; his mother and Cleveland Heights school board member Beverly Wright-Baker; her four siblings, Sandra, Willie Jr., Toyia and Molly; and the newest generation of Wright Family Singers—Caleb and his cousins Lauren Wright, Blake Reynolds, Kyra Wright and Jordan Wright.
All are invited to join this musical celebration of Caleb Wright as he heads to Los Angeles with prayer, love, excellent music and well wishes toward a bright future.
You can stay in touch with Wright by following his career at www.facebook.com/CalebAWrightMusic, www.soundcloud.com/calebalexanderwright, and www.youtube.com/user/nothinlikecaleb/videos.
Peg Weissbrod
Peg Weissbrod is a freelance writer and outreach director for Forest Hill Presbyterian Church in Cleveland Heights.