A Life that Revolves AroundMusic

Valdosta Magazine contributor Cheryl Oliver met with Issa Young after his performance at the Turner Center's "American Soundtrack" event this past August.

Deeply impressed by his love for music, his journey, and his dedication to spreading the beauty of music, we wanted to share his unique story.

Story by CHERYL OLIVER

Photo by WES SEWELL PHOTOGRAPHY

this page would be reverberating. Issa Young is one of our community’s most resonant voices. Those who heard Issa sing “Ol’ Man River” at the Turner Center’s “American Soundtrack” last August know what I mean. His deep bass voice emanates from the very depth of his soul.

Issa’s life revolves around music. The Choral Director at Pine Grove Middle School and Choir Master at Christ Episcopal Church, he has a mastery of multiple musical instruments that started at an early age. Discovering his voice came much later, thanks to the insight of an encouraging college professor.

Read on to learn more about this remarkable singer and musician in his own words.

VM: Tell us what brought you to Valdosta and about your educational path.

Young: I moved to Valdosta in 2009 from Albany, Georgia, to attend VSU. While there, I earned my BA in Vocal Music, MMP in Vocal Performance, and MAT in Choral Education. I’m working on my Education Specialist degree from Piedmont University. I plan to earn a Doctorate in Vocal Pedagogy and teach at the collegiate level.

VM: What sparked your interest in music?

Young: When I was around age 3, Dad created the Young Nubian Band, consisting of my four siblings. I joined when I was 4 or 5. My father, a doctor in Albany, Georgia, was invited to Nigeria with one of his friends to lecture on AIDS, and he soaked up the culture. With a new love for that culture, Dad wanted to share it with our community. Although we were born in America, he wanted us to connect to our roots and express our heritage musically. We wore hand-made West African attire and sang West African songs while playing traditional instruments. It stayed with me because I found music to be an emotional outlet.

VM: Do you incorporate African-origin music in your teaching?

Young: Where most children learn music from Western sources, I was fortunate to discover music uniquely connecting me to my heritage. Also, singing and playing improvised songs without sheet music trained my ear and helped me understand music.

I am an African-American who learned African songs from my father, so my idea of African culture and music is second-hand. That isn’t to say that I won’t incorporate what I learned into my teaching. If we’re learning a song of African origin, it will make the experience more authentic.

VM: Who are the most significant influences on your music?

Young: I started VSU as a piano major in 2009 but changed my major to voice after my collegiate voice teacher, Dr. David Johnson, took an interest in me. My first musical influence, besides my father, was Ms. Sybil Thomas. She always found a way to connect music education with intrinsic learning. My piano teacher, Mr. Richard Miller, probably had the most significant impact during my grade school years. He taught me the basics of music theory, encouraged my composition and creativity, and pushed me to be my own pianist.

When it comes to teaching, however, I base my style on my middle school band teacher, Ms. Eartha Watkins, and my collegiate vocal teacher, Dr. David Johnson. Ms. Watkins’ level of respect and passion for music was always inspiring. Dr.

MUSIC / ISSA YOUNG

Young: I was born in 1990, and most of my earliest musical memories are African music and children’s songs. But we had many different genres in the house. My mother and father played soul and ’80s music. My sister always played the top 40 hits. One brother listened to heavy metal and rock. Another alternative music. My youngest brother listened to the same music that I listened to, but he loved video game music.

Johnson was the inspirational force I needed during my early college years, and he’s why I’m a choir teacher today.

VM: How, specifically, did Dr. Johnson help you develop your abilities?

Young: Dr. Johnson, or “Doc” as I affectionately call him, was the first person who saw the potential in my voice. Before I met him, I never really sang out or liked my voice because I constantly compared myself to all of the professional and trained singers of old. However, Doc took an interest in me and helped define my bass-baritone voice and overall character as a student and a person. He turned an instrument I let gather dust into the voice I use today.

VM: Tell us a bit about your family here in Valdosta.

Young: I met my wife, Carmella, while at VSU. She has an incredible musical journey of her own. At age 15, she taught herself to play guitar and later took lessons. She played at the Apollo

Theater’s Amateur Night in 2005 and 2006 and won first place twice. Before joining the Navy, she played on Good Day New York and occasionally in college. She still plays guitar as a hobby and takes lessons weekly to keep her skills sharp. We have a 3-year-old daughter named Sophia.

VM: How do you intend to nurture the love of music in your daughter?

Young: Sophia has many musical influences in our home. She has a toddler piano and guitar, plays on our upright piano, sings songs around the house, and loves music that reminds me of my own. We want her to make her own choices regarding her life goals. Still, we plan on teaching her to sing, play piano, guitar, or whatever instrument she can get her hands on, and be a great all-around musician as early as possible.

VM: Your own interest in music is quite diverse. In your leisure time, what are you most likely to listen to?

Throughout my middle and high school years, I listened to adult contemporary and soft rock music. I later fell in love with Japanese culture. I started listening to J-pop, J-Rock, and Japanese City Pop, and I still do today. I also listen to a lot of soft rock, ’80s synthpop/rock, and later music of the 2000 and early 2010 decades. My home is filled with music from different cultures, eras, and genres, so I always find differences and similarities in the various types of music and train my ear to create my own down the road.

VM: What are your most significant accomplishments and goals?

Young: Even though I sang in the YNB, I never sang in the choir in middle or high school because it wasn’t seen as appropriate for adolescent boys. As a male choir teacher, I want to help break that stigma. There are so many amazing things happening vocally for children during their teenage years, and it’s sad to see talents go unnurtured due to decades-old gender roles associated with males and singing.

My biggest accomplishment, however, is being a music teacher. I love singing and music, and I’m always excited to share that love with my students daily. My goals are simple: to be the best teacher I can be for my students. I want my students to love music and singing because they want to, not because I told them it was for a grade. | VM