Denise Murchison Payton is a native of Spring Lake, North Carolina. She was educated in the public schools of Cumberland County (NC); N.C. A&T State University (NC); Fayetteville State University (NC) and is pursuing doctoral studies in Music Education, at Boston University (MA). She has studied with Judith Pinnix Howell (NC), Sheila Carver (TX), Leroy Roberson, Dr. Samuel Barber, Phyllis Tektonidis (NC) and presently with Christine Weidinger formerly of the Metropolitan Opera Company. Payton has held teaching positions in the Richmond County Public Schools, and Cumberland County Public Schools and presently at Fayetteville State University where she is the Director of the University Choir and teacher of applied voice.
Payton is also the founder of The Heritage Restoration Chorale an ecumenical group of singers from the Fayetteville, Cumberland County area. She has performed frequently as a soprano soloist and in such operas as Susannah, Amahl and the Night Visitors, the world premiere of Strange Fruit, and Regina. Internationally, Ms. Payton has performed with the Fayetteville State University Concert Choir on their first European tour (1998) at the American Church in Paris, France, St. Jacobs, a 12th century church in Liege, Belgium, the National Basicilia of Koekelberg, the fifth largest church in the world and St. Giles Church in the canal city of Brugge, Belgium. Denise is featured on the CD “What a Mighty God We Serve” recorded in Belgium.
Ms. Payton makes her debut performance with the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra, December 13, 2008. April 27, 2003, Payton debuted with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra in British Columbia, Canada singing John Rutter’s Feel the Spirit. Ms. Payton was the first soloist of the Martin Luther King Jr. annual concert at Fayetteville State University, and just celebrated the 10th anniversary of this celebration as soprano soloist in January 2008.
Denise has been the recipient of several teaching awards such as the Teacher of the Year, Spring Lake Jr. High/Middle School 1992-93, 1996-97, and 2003-04.Educator of the Year, 1996 First Union Bank , and Outstanding Community Award, from Rise Newspaper and the City of Fayetteville. Ms. Payton is a regular performer with Long Leaf Opera Company and listed in Outstanding Young Women of America, Who’s Who Among American Teachers and holds memberships in many other organizations such as the Music Educators National Conference; North Carolina Music Educators Association; Mu Phi Epsilon Sorority ; and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
She is often sought after as a vocal coach and lecturer/presenter for churches and organizations. Denise is the Minister of Music at Bethel A.M.E. Zion Church. Payton has also made numerous guest appearances as a guest conductor for the elementary, middle and high schools’ All-County choruses of Franklin County Schools and Sampson County Schools. Denise is the mother of 2 children, Jarae 25, and Jared 20.