Not many college students can draw in a large crowd by singing opera. Ty Cox can.
Cox is graduating this semester and has concluded his musical career at CSB/SJU with his senior recital and a fundraiser concert for Kenya.
While Cox said that his music is his self-expression, his friends believe that the crowd turnout at his recent events is an expression of his personality.
“The turnout shows his work ethic and his musical skill. It shows his personality and his outlook on life. People love him,” senior Luke Riordan, a friend and Cox’s roommate, said.
Cox, a native of the Bahamas, is a well-known figure around campus, both for his personality and musical talent. He is also well-known in the world of music. He has traveled the globe performing his vocal talent. He plans to continue his musical career at the Manhattan School of Music, the Royal Academy Opera in London or Julliard.
Cox’s road to success has not been easy. He was born with a physical disability, causing him to wear a prosthetic leg. Music has helped him to win victory over his disability. He said he has always had friends that enjoy athletic and physical activities, but Cox could not join. While his friends played around at the beach, he would play his guitar.
“(My leg) never slowed me down,” Cox said.
Cox describes his home life as being far from the nuclear family. Cox has never been close with his father. Cox did not communicate with his dad until they both realized they had musical talents. He describes their relation as being “musically related.”
Adding to his hardships, Cox lost a close friend during high school in a car accident.
“As I look back, I realize that I’ve had challenges, but look where I am now,” Cox said.
Cox did not discover his calling to sing until his junior year of high school while touring in South Africa. Cox performed with the Bahamian National Choir for a crowd of women celebrating the anniversary of their right to vote. He sang a solo in the song, “Women Don’t Cry,” by Bob Marley.
“When we sang that song, you could just feel that energy from the crowd,” Cox said. “That changed my life. I realized that I’m doing something that I should be doing. I realized that I have a gift and that I need to share that. I didn’t give it to myself. This was given to me, and I need to use it for those sort of things. I can help people by singing music they like to hear.”
From that point, Cox has been formally training as a singer.
Cox’s achievements in the musical industry include being a two-time division Minnesota state champion, a scholarship from the St. Cloud Symphony Orchestra and worldwide awards in his membership of National Choir in the Bahamas.
Dr. Carolyn Finley, Cox’s vocal coach, believes that Cox is a natural born leader. That, along with his many other talents, will lead him to do great things.
“Ty has one of the more beautiful baritone voices,” said Finley. “Ty has it all. He has the whole musical package, from his musical smarts, performing personality and his voice.”
Cox said that from day one, he has loved this CSB/SJU. Friends, professors and acquaintances have shaped his life. He has enjoyed his experiences at CSB/SJU, especially working in Brother Willie’s Pub, serving on the St. John’s Senate, working in the Institutional Advancement Office, singing in Johnnie Blend and the Men’s Chorus and performing as the lead role in this year’s opera.
A combination of his involvement on campus and his ability to remember everyone he meets has made him a well-known figure on campus.
With his eyes set on the future, Ty has two dreams – opening a restaurant with live music entertainment and teaching music to kids.
As Cox prepares for the next phase in his life, he wants to leave the CSB/SJU community with his two favorite phrases, “Thank you” and “I love you.”