Daren C. BASNIGHT

HAMPTON - Daren Craig Basnight, 49, who's clear, beguiling tenor voice blessed the Hampton Roads area for more than 35 years, died Sunday, March 18, 2012, after a long, courageous battle with kidney disease.
Daren was born on July 11, 1962, in Nyack, N.Y., and lived in Valley Cottage and Haverstraw, N.Y., before his family moved to Phoebus, Virginia in 1974.
In the 7th grade at C. Vernon Spratley Junior High School, Daren met Ms. Phyllis Holland-James, who immediately recognized his exceptional musical ability. With her encouragement he began to focus on his musical and vocal education. Ms. Holland-James exposed him to the cultural riches of the Hampton Roads and Washington D.C. areas, introducing him to performances at Wolf Trap Park for the Performing Arts, the Kennedy Center, The Virginia Opera, and the Virginia Symphony, inspiring the continuing development Daren's exceptional artistry.
When Daren entered Phoebus High School he became a valuable member of the School Choir under the direction of William F. Crump, who continued the mentoring begun by Ms. Holland-James. Throughout his Junior and Senior high school career Daren received numerous honors, and was regularly chosen to participate in both local and state honors choirs, culminating in a European tour the summer between his junior and senior years. In his senior year he won first prize in the vocal category of the Bland Memorial Music Competition.
After graduating from Phoebus High School, he attended Hampton Institute (now Hampton University). It was there that he met Dr. Roland Carter, who encouraged him to switch from focusing on baritone repertoire and begin developing his naturally fluent tenor voice.
In 1985 he began working in Hampton at Alcoa Howmet Casting, an aerospace industry company, where he eventually became a project engineer. At the same time he became increasingly known locally for his excellent singing, and was a member of and featured soloist with many of the finest vocal organizations in the area, including the Virginia Symphony Chorus, the Virginia Choral Society, the Williamsburg Choral Guild, the Virginia Chorale, and the Virginia Opera Chorus. He was a frequent soloist with the early music ensemble Capriole, and a member of the Old Dominion Line Quartet for 15 years.
His son, Zavier Owen, was born during Daren's first marriage with Lyrae Owens. In 2002, he married Sondra Saunders, bringing her two children, Britteny and Darius into his new family.
In 1993, Daren was hired as tenor section leader at Williamsburg Presbyterian Church, where he served until his death. He also did recording work with Berlitz International, and sang with organizations throughout the United States, including the Santa Fe Pro Musica and the San Francisco Bach Choir.
After 2003, health complications due to kidney disease seriously compromised his ability to travel and work. He left Howmet in 2008, but continued to perform whenever possible with local choral and chamber music organizations.
Daren is survived by his wife, Sondra R. Basnight; son, Zavier Owen Basnight; daughter, Brittney Richards; son, Darius Young; brother, Baron Clayton Basnight; and his parents, William Thomas Basnight and Shirley Mae Basnight.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 27, at Williamsburg Presbyterian Church, 215 Richmond Road, Williamsburg, Va. His ashes will be interred in the church's columbarium.
The family has requested that memorials may be made to the Special Music Fund of the Williamsburg Presbyterian Church. View and post condolences on our online guestbook at dailypress.com/guestbooks.