The Shadow
Dr. Calvin A. McClinton has been awarded the Alleghany Highlands Arts Council’s Arts Legacy Award for 2019.
The award is sponsored annually by the arts council to recognize individuals or entities who have given a lifetime of dedication to the perpetuation the performing arts.
The award was presented at the arts council’s annual Madrigal Dinner held Saturday, Dec. 28, at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Covington.
Dr. McClinton has dedicated his life’s work to the advancement of young performers in music and theatre in our community, across the nation, as well as in other countries.
A native of Covington, he was born and raised in the historic village of Wrightsville.
Dr. McClinton began his training locally, studying piano and voice with the late Frances Parker Rupert.
After graduating from Alleghany High School in 1968, he earned a bachelor’s degree in vocal music education from Westminster Choir College, followed by a master’s degree in conducting from Trenton State College.
After college, Calvin taught music in the public schools while conducting bands and orchestras for community theatre and civic organizations throughout New Jersey.
In 1978 he organized his own theatre company, “The Part-Time Players,” which was housed at Fort Hancock Theatre in Sandy Hook, N.J. There, he began to train novice actors and singers.
As his career grew as a coach and musical theatre specialist, Dr. McClinton taught at Lake Michigan College, Howard University, Kent State University and later, internationally, in Romania, Korea and Bulgaria.
After receiving his doctorate in 1997 from Wayne State University, he broadened his professional career while performing and directing, both in the U.S. and abroad.
In 1999, Dr. McClinton received a Fulbright award to teach, direct and conduct research in Romania. There, he trained young Romanians in the art of American musical theatre performance and carried out research on how that art form might transform the musical landscape of Central European music.
He founded the McClinton Musical Theatre Foundation while in Bucharest, Romania. It later morphed into the the McClinton Foundation. Its mission is to support young artists in their pursuit of excellence in the musical theatre art form.
Dr. McClinton returned to the Alleghany Highlands in 2005 on a mission to revitalize his native community of Wrightsville. From this effort grew the Wrightsville Renewal Festival.
He served as choir director at Wrightsville Baptist Church before being named the director of music at Old Stone Presbyterian Church in Lewisburg, W.Va., in 2018.
Over the years he has brought young interns, many of them Fulbright scholars, to share their talents with the community through performances, workshops and open forums.
Through all aspects of his work he has continually shined light on common awareness of our shared cultural differences while promoting and inspiring unity.
While making the presentation, Alleghany Highlands Arts Council Executive Director Tammy Scruggs-Duncan praised McClinton’s work saying, “During his lifetime Calvin has influenced literally hundreds of artists, students and colleagues by his leadership, determination, insight and immeasurable kindness.
“This award is bestowed on one who has devoted their lives to the perpetuation of the performing arts and this year’s recipient is in every way worthy of this honor,” she continued. “Calvin started here … then he went off to change the world and has certainly left an impression upon it. We were very fortunate to have him decide to return to his home and turn his talents and the magic he possesses into revitalizing his home community.”
In his acceptance speech, McClinton thanked the arts council and its board of directors and spoke of what the award meant to him.
“No matter how difficult things may seem in this world, there’s always hope … The past few months have been a real trial and test for me. I want to thank all of you for your thoughts, gifts and prayers for my recovery,” he said.
“All my life I have strived to give the best of myself in performance and to the glorification to God, in all my work,” he continued. “My ministry in music, my work and gifts to the community, this was my way of fulfilling His plan for my life. This was the way I could help feed His children, to share His love and His words through the gift of music and presentation.”
Dr. McClinton concluded by saying, “I suspect that many times in life we may feel unfulfilled because we think no one notices what we have contributed … but we begin to understand that someone is always watching. I am profoundly moved that this organization and this community has noticed the sharing of God’s love in my gifts and work to this community — my home. I am forever grateful for this recognition and this award presented to me this evening. Thank you and Godspeed, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.”
Many of Dr. McClinton’s family, colleagues and friends were in attendance as he was presented with this well-deserved honor.
The Alleghany Highlands Arts Council accepts nominations for this award year-round.
Past recipients include: Jean Mitchell Shepard, Stephen Allan Tucker, Susan Parker Potter, Sandra Dodd Minter, Nell K. Fleshman, R. Dean Andrews, Westvaco Corporation (WestRock), Horton Beirne and the Covington Virginian Inc., Ginger Leitch, Frances Parker Rupert, Sara Lu P. Snyder, The Alleghany Foundation,
Also, founding members: Lily Albert, Harold and Carla Bell, Hubert and Mary Emma Cox, Nelson and Mary Lee Coxe, Mary Frances Mays-Davis, Margaret McCaleb, Harold and Nita Miller, R.L. and Greta Persinger, Charles and Virginia Stumpp.
