News 12 @ 11 o'clock -- September 14, 2008

AUGUSTA, Ga.---Famed international opera singer and Augusta native Jessye Norman is a legend in the opera world and here in Augusta. The amphitheater on the Riverwalk even bears her name. But on this day, her focus was on giving the new school of arts her blessing.

At the gifting ceremony for the new Jessye Norman School of the Arts, Jessye says the dedication wasn't just about the change in location, but about the students enrolled.

"It's to get them to understand that that voice within them is worthy of being heard," said Jessye Norman, international opera singer.

The school was housed inside of a church for the past five years. But now with the new building across the street, each area of the program will have it's own room, for good.

"It's wonderful. The generosity of Peter Knox is really quite unbelievable that we should have our own permanent home is something that fills is all with such pride and joy and tears because it really is an amazing gift," said Jessye.

A gift that Jessye hopes will keep giving for years to come.

"I think it was Abraham Lincoln who said a tree is best measured when it's down and this tree is still strong and growing tall so the best is yet to come, " said Jessye.

The Jessye Norman School of the Arts will open it's doors to students for the first time tomorrow in it's new building.