Author: Jennifer Dowdy
Senior Composition Recital – Charles Weathersby
PROGRAM
Morning (2023) – Charles Weathersby
Charles Weathersby, piano
Theme and Variations in F (2024) – Charles Weathersby
Valentin M. Bogdan, piano
Waves (2025) – Charles Weathersby
Anne-Gaëlle Ravetto, violin
Douglas Mark, trombone
Valentin Bogdan, piano
Cuore e Mente (2024) – Charles Weathersby
MSMS Strings Club
1st Violin: Claire Rhee
2nd Violin: Katie Chung
Viola: Mr William Funderburk (MSMS Faculty)
Cello: Mirae Nishikawa
Song Cycle on Poetry by Christina Rossetti (2025) – Charles Weathersby
1. What Would I Give | 2. Vanity of Vanities
Zane Lynn, tenor
Valentin Bogdan, piano
For Better or Worse (2025) – Charles Weathersby
Anne-Gaëlle Ravetto, violin
Valentin Bogdan, piano
BIOGRAPHY
Charles Weathersby Jr (b. 2003) born in Wesson, Mississippi is a composer who has shown significant growth and has developed an impressive portfolio during his time at the Mississippi University for Women. Under the tutelage of Dr. Valentin Bogdan, he has had the chance to be featured in several new music festivals, institutional recitals, and national NACUSA concerts. Charles has garnered a lot of experience working with professional ensembles and prominent modern-day composers by attending intensive summer composition programs in places like Geneva, New York and Cleveland, Ohio, working with Mississippi’s very own Symphony Orchestra, and attending state conferences. He placed 1st in the state of Mississippi for two consecutive years in the MTNA Music Composition Competition. From knowing little-to-nothing of music theory to winning state competitions, Charles has a deep sense of gratitude for his instructors, friends, and family who have supported him so far and will far into the future as he continues his pursuit of knowledge.
Spring 2026 Recital
Program
Trumpet Concerto in Eb Major – Johann Nepomuk Hummel (1778-1837)
I. Allegro con spirito
Zahrya Harrison, trumpet
William Reber, piano
Morning – Charles Weathersby
Charles Weathersby, piano
Dansul timpului (Time Dance) op.76
Dansul cerului (Sky Dance) op. 76
Dansul pământului (Earth Dance) op. 76
Dansul corbilor (The Dance of the Ravens) op.73
– Carmen Petra-Basacopol (1926-2023)
Raisa Virlan, piano
Anxiety – Devan Lott-Knipe
Electronic Fixed Media
Andante et Allegro – Guy Ropartz (1864-1955)
Jaylen Lewis, trumpet
William Reber, piano
SÌ, mi chiamano Mimì from La Bohème – Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924)
Susan Hurley, soprano
William Reber, piano
New Music at the W – Spring 2026
Program
Lullabies for Little Ones – Hannah E. Adhikari
Hannah E. Adhikari, piano
Silence, Sorrow and Agony – Devan Lott-Knipe
Susan Hurley, soprano
Valentin M. Bogdan, piano
Capriccio Tibetan – Jianjun Lee
Anne-Gaëlle Ravetto, violin
Rainfall – Kyle Jones
For fixed media (acousmatic)
Nocturne an Cortège – Lili Boulanger
Anne-Gaëlle Ravetto, violin
Valentin M. Bogdan, piano
Consider – Moira Cairns
For fixed media (acousmatic)
Vantage Points – Valentin M. Bogdan
Anne-Gaëlle Ravetto, violin
Douglas Mark, trombone
Do You Remember? – Ivan Elezovic
For fixed media (2 channel stereo)
Trio for Trombone, Violin, and Piano — Olga Harris (Tennessee State University)
- Waltz Andante | 2. Adagio | 3. Allegro
Anne-Gaëlle Ravetto, violin (Mississippi University for Women)
Douglas Mark, trombone (Mississippi University for Women)
Julia Mortyakova, piano (Mississippi University for Women)
Voice Students’ Spring 2026 Recital
PROGRAM
“Gia il sole dal Gange” – Alessandro Scarlatti (1660-1725)
Duncan Nobach, bass-baritone
“Just Imagine” from Good News – Ray Henderson (1896-1970), B.G. DeSylva) (1895-1950) , Lew Brown (1893-1958)
Eden Cartwright, soprano
“What I Did for Love” from A Chorus Line – Marvin Hamlisch (1944-2012)
Lisa Smith, soprano
“I Cain’t Say No” from Oklahoma! – Richard Rodgers (1902-1979)
Trinity Garvin, soprano
“When I Have Sung My Songs” – Ernest Charles (1895-1984)
Charlene Stork, mezzo-soprano
Langston Dreams – Rosephanye Powell, Poetry by Langston Hughes
1. Hold Fast to Dreams | 2. To Sit and Dream
Marcus Hill, tenor
“Folksong Arrangements Volume 1: British Isles The Salley Gardens” – W. B. Yeats (1865-1939), arr. Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)
Jay Lindsey, mezzo-soprano
“I’m Not Afraid of Anything” from Songs for a New World – Jason Robert Brown (b. 1970)
Savannah Meyers, mezzo-soprano
Black History Month Celebration Concert 2026
PROGRAM
Earth, Wind & Fire Dance Mix: Let’s Groove, Boogie Wonderland, Sing a Song – arr. Paul Murtha
13 O’clock – Zachary Smith
The W Jazz Ensemble
Melissa Reeves, Director of Bands & Coordinator of Music Education
Jesus Promised – Chicago Mass Choir
Trust In God – Elevation Worship
United Harmony Gospel Choir
Langston Dreams – Rosephanye Powell, Poetry by Langston Hughes
1. Hold Fast to Dreams
2. To Sit and Dream
Marcus Hill, tenor
William Reber, piano
“Home” from The Wiz – Charlie Smalls (1953-1987)
Charlene Stork, mezzo soprano
William Reber, piano
Hard Trials – H.T. Burleigh (1866-1949)
Zachariah Harden, tenor
William Reber, piano
Give me Jesus – Moses Hogan (1957-2003)
Trinity Garvin, soprano
William Reber, piano
I’m a poor l’il orphan – Julia Perry (1924-1979)
Jerry Brown, tenor (MUW Alum)
William Reber, piano
Compensation – Charles Lloyd Jr. (1948-2024)
Ricky Dubuisson II, bass-baritone (MUW Alum)
William Reber, piano
Compensation – Betty Jackson King (1928-1994)
Susan Hurley, soprano
William Reber, piano
In that great gettin’up morning – arr. Eli Villanueva
Jerry Brown, tenor (MUW Alum)
William Reber, piano
The Battle of Jericho – Moses Hogan
The MUW Chamber Singers
Zane Lynn, director
from Credo – Margaret Bonds (1913-1972), Text by W.E.B DuBois (1868-1963)
1. I Believe in God
2. Especially do I Believe in the Negro Race
The MUW Chamber Singers
Marcus Hill, tenor solo
Zane Lynn, collaborative pianist
William Reber, director
Senior Piano Recital – John Luke Lollar
Program
Piano Sonata in E Minor, Op. 30, No. 27 – Ludwig van Beethoven (1756-1791)
- Mit Lebhaftigkeit und durchaus mit Empfindung und Ausdruck
- Nicht zu geschwind und sehr singbar vorzutragen
Ce qu`a vu le vent d`ouest – Claude Debussy (1862-1918)
Sonata in A Major, K. 200, L. 238 – Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757)
Vallee d’Obermann – Franz Lizst (1811-1886)
Faculty Voice Recital – Zane Lynn, tenor
Program
An die ferne Geliebte – Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
- Auf dem Hügel sitz ich spähend
- Wo die Berge so blau
- Leichte Segler in den Höhen
- Diese Wolken in den Höhen
- Es kehret der Maien, es blühet die Au
- Nimm sie hin denn, diese Lieder
Four Scottish Songs – Ottorino Respighi (1879-1936)
- When the Kye Come Hame
- Within a Mile of Edinburgh Town
- My Heart’s in the Highlands: Air from the Gaelic
- The Piper of Dundee
Who are these children? – Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)
- A Riddle ‘The Earth’
- A Ladie’s Sang
- Nightmare
- Black Day
- Bed-time
- Slaughter
- A Riddle ‘The child you were’
- The Larky Lad
- Who are these children?
- Supper
- The Children
- The Auld Aik