Newport festival documentary 'Man of Many Voices' explores an accomplished conductor's life

April 21, 2017 1:15 PM PT

While singer Kiki Wilson is sure few people know who conductor Robert Shaw was, she hopes a new documentary will mean they’ll learn about a man who could inspire others to do what they feel compelled to do despite obstacles.

Wilson, who lives in Atlanta, came up with the idea to explore Shaw’s life journey in the documentary “Man of Many Voices,” which will be shown at the Newport Beach Film Festival Tuesday and Thursday.

The film, directed by Peter Miller and Pamela Roberts, was recently awarded best documentary at the Palm Beach Film Festival and best documentary at the Beaufort International Film Festival in February.

Shaw, who died in January 1999, was born in Red Bluff, Calif., in 1916 and planned to follow in his father’s footsteps by becoming a minister.

But while attending Pomona College in the late 1930s, he was part of a glee club and eventually crossed paths with popular radio personality Fred Waring. Waring later offered Shaw a job training another group of singers.

“He became an overnight star,” Wilson said in a phone interview Thursday.

Wilson sang with Shaw for 18 years in the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus, a group Shaw started when he came to Georgia’s state capital in the late 1960s.

Her last performance with Shaw was the Christmas just before he died.

“I was lucky enough to perform with him for all those years,” Wilson said. “He had a fabulous life and he worked like a dog.”

“Man of Many Voices” weaves Shaw’s life story together with interviews and commentaries from former President Jimmy Carter, Walter Cronkite, Yo-Yo Ma and others, according to a news release.

Shaw’s musical career, which lasted over 60 years, included teaching Carnegie Hall workshops for choral conductors and singers, being music director of the San Diego Symphony and winning 16 Grammy awards.

Besides highlighting his musical accomplishments, the film also brings attention to Shaw’s involvement in social justice.

“He toured in the ’50s and ’60s with an integrated chorus when that was not so popular … you’d have instances like not being able to eat together in a restaurant in the South,” Wilson said. “But he said he was going to get the best talent there is, it doesn’t matter what their color of skin is.

“I wanted his legacy to live on,” Wilson said. “And I think we’ve done that in this film.”