During its 160th Commencement ceremony, Rider University awarded distinguished composer, conductor, educator, and alumna Rosephanye Powell an honorary Doctor of Music degree on May 17, 2025, at CURE Insurance Arena.
Powell, a 1987 graduate of Westminster Choir College, was recognized for her extraordinary contributions to choral music and music education. Westminster Choir College, a conservatory-style school that became part of Rider University in 1992, now operates on Rider’s main campus in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, within the College of Arts and Sciences.
Recognized for Artistic and Academic Impact
Widely regarded as one of America’s leading composers of choral and solo vocal music, Powell’s works have been performed in renowned venues including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Spivey Hall, and Cadogan Hall.
Her music has been premiered and performed by acclaimed ensembles such as Cantus, St. Olaf Choir, and the Grammy Award-winning Chanticleer. Her compositions are published by leading music publishers including Hal Leonard and Gentry Publications.
The honorary degree was presented during Rider’s graduate and doctoral commencement ceremony, where nearly 400 master’s and doctoral degrees were awarded. Later that afternoon, approximately 800 undergraduate students participated in the university’s commencement celebration.
Powell currently serves as the Charles W. Barkley Endowed Professor and Professor of Voice at Auburn University. In addition to teaching applied voice, vocal literature, and vocal pedagogy, she conducts the women’s chorus and co-conducts both concert and gospel choirs.
Part I : Rider University awarded distinguished composer, conductor, educator, and alumna Rosephanye Powell an honorary Doctor of Music degree.
Part II : Rosephanye Powell Rider University
Award-Winning Leadership in Choral Arts
Her influence in choral music extends internationally through clinics, guest conducting engagements, and educational residencies in Italy, Australia, and the United Kingdom. In 2022, Harvard University honored her with the Luise Vosgerchian Teaching Award for her contributions to music and arts education.
Awarded 2025 Raymond Brock Memorial Commission: Rosephanye Powell’s Kyrie Eleison in G Major — with the F Major edition coming soon.
Among her many recent honors, Powell received the American Choral Directors Association’s 2025 Raymond Brock Memorial Commission. Her additional accolades include the Living Legend Award from the African Diaspora Sacred Music Festival at California State University, the Marquis Who’s Who Lifetime Achievement Award, Honorary Life Membership in the National Collegiate Choral Organization, and the National Vanguard Award from the National Association of Negro Musicians.
Powell earned her bachelor’s degree in music education, summa cum laude, from Alabama State University, her master’s degree in vocal performance and pedagogy from Westminster Choir College, and a doctorate in vocal performance from Florida State University.
The honorary Doctor of Music degree reflects Rider University’s recognition of Powell’s enduring impact as a composer, educator, conductor, and champion of choral artistry around the world.