I didn't think at all as a young child that music would be my profession. It was just something that one did along with going to Brownies or going to church or going to school or anything else that one did in sort of one's very young life. Jessye Norman browniechildchurch share on social
'Swan,' by Mary Oliver. Poems and prose. Reading from this book is as if visiting a very wise friend. There is wisdom and welcoming kindness on every page. Jessye Norman bookfriendkindness Change image and share on social
I am the proud and humble recipient of more than 30 honorary doctorate degrees. Jessye Norman degreedoctoratehonorary Change image and share on social
One has to draw upon one's own musical thoughts and one's own musical acumen, and not to be afraid to let that come into one's work. Perhaps that comes with more experience, but perhaps it also comes with daring, and believing that you should. Jessye Norman acumenafraidbelieve share on social
Problems arise in that one has to find a balance between what people need from you and what you need for yourself. Jessye Norman arisebalancefind Change image and share on social
I think that it is expansive for the mind, for the fantasy of children and grownups alike, to understand that the world is huge. There is so much in the world to experience, and the odds are so essential to life. Jessye Norman alikechildessential share on social
There has never been a time when I was not committed to, involved in, or caring of, the social and political issues of my world. Jessye Norman carecommitinvolve Change image and share on social
One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation. Jessye Norman ambitionlovemake Change image and share on social
I would like to see more African-American singers as part of our opera companies. If you take music and the arts out of the public schools, then you're going to lose a lot of people that you might have discovered were talented, very early. Jessye Norman africanamericanart share on social
I was given the opportunity to write the kind of book that I wanted to write, rather than one that catalogues where I sang and what I sang and what I wore. I wanted to write a book about an American family, the family that has produced me. The longer I live, the more I realise the incredible support and love we were given as children. Jessye Norman americanbookcatalogue share on social