Discover Delmarva Arts: Dr. John Wesley Wright

SALISBURY, Md. — You may spot him walking the halls of Salisbury University, singing at your local church, or maybe even performing on stage at Lincoln Center… Salisbury University Professor Dr. John Wesley Wright is everywhere, bringing spirituals, Broadway hits, and powerful arias to audiences near and far.

A world-traveled tenor, Wright’s career stretches far beyond the Eastern Shore. “I’ve been to Japan several times, Belgium, I was able to do a live television Christmas program for the King and Queen of Belgium. Touring with the American spiritual ensemble all over Spain, and we just recently came back from France; it’s just been a thrill.”

One of the genres closest to Wright’s heart is African American spirituals. “I didn’t even realize the significance of the music that I grew up singing until later on in life — that it was a body of work that was being studied and championed. And so, when I realized that my own experience had meaning and a purpose, I grabbed onto that and ran with it.”

Now, a Professor of Music and Voice at Salisbury University, Wright is helping train the next generation of vocalists. “So, I get to really take a one-on-one journey with students and that’s about 90% of my work. The most rewarding thing is just watching them blossom watching them accept their responsibility and to execute their craft.”