Program

I

We Shall Overcome – Margaret Bonds (1913-1972)

When Evening’s Twilight – John L. Hatton (1809-1886)

Charles Weathersby, conductor

“Dieu! Qu’il la fait bon regarder! (from Trois Chansons) – Claude Debussy (1862-1918)

II

Act III, final scene from The Rake’s Progress – Music by Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971) & Lyrics by W. H. Auden (1907-1973)

III

I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to be Free – Margaret Bonds

May it Be from The Lord of the Rings, Fellowship of the Ring – Eithne Ni Bhraonain, Nicky Ryan, & Roma Ryan

Ariana Grande Medley – arr. Julia Fang

I Wanna Be Ready (African-American spiritual) – arr. Rosephanye Powell & William C. Powell

Biographies

Dr. Susan Hurley, soprano, has performed in Europe and the United States in repertoire that ranges from opera and musical theatre to concert and recital literature. A prizewinner at the 2002 Meistersinger competition in Graz, Austria, she has sung 25 principal operatic roles and soloed with orchestras in Germany and Austria as well as throughout the U.S.

She is the founding Artistic Director of Phoenix Arizona’s annual AIDS Quilt Songbook concert series. Later this month, she will present her ninth annual AIDS Quilt Songbook benefit concert in Phoenix. The concert launches a week of World AIDS Day events and raises funds for Arizona HIV/AIDS service organizations. Dr. Hurley has commissioned several new songs, with texts by long-term HIV survivors, which have premiered on the Phoenix concerts. She has presented lecture recitals, masterclasses, and talks on the literature comprising the AIDS Quilt Songbook for Southern Regional NATS, the Mississippi Music Teachers Association, at universities, and most recently, this past August at the tenth International Congress of Voice Teachers (ICVT)in Vienna, Austria.

She has given presentations on the theories of Alfred Tomatis, founder of audio-psycho-phonology, at ICVT Stockholm (2017), NATS, and the Mississippi Music Teachers Association. She authored the chapter on Tomatis listening in the book So You Want to Sing with Awareness, published in 2020 by Rowman and Littlefield.

Zane Lynn serves as a voice instructor at Mississippi University for Women in Columbus, MS. With a solid background in both performance and teaching, Zane is committed to sharing his knowledge and passion for music with his students.

Throughout his performing career, Zane has enjoyed various opportunities in concerts, recitals, and operas. Some of his roles include Fernando in Mozart’s Così fan tutte with the Portland Opera Workshop, Herr Vogelsang in Mozart’s Der Schauspieldirektor, Mayor Upfold in Britten’s Albert Herring, and Marcellus in Nancy Van de Vate’s Hamlet with the Moravian Philharmonic.

Before his current role, Zane taught at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, where he directed two choirs, taught private voice lessons, led a music theatre workshop, and instructed courses in music theory. His focus has always been on fostering a supportive and enriching environment for his students.

An alumnus of Mississippi University for Women, Zane holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education. He continued his studies at the University of Mississippi,

Dr. Hurley is currently Associate Professor of Voice at Mississippi University for Women where she teaches Voice, Opera Workshop, Voice Pedagogy, and Music Literature. Several of her current and former voice students have won top prizes at state, regional, and national NATS competitions. She earned her Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Arizona State University in 2012.

Dr. William Reber is Director of Choirs and Staff Pianist at MUW. Professor Emeritus of Opera and Music Theatre at Arizona State University where he was on the faculty for 24 years and served as Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Lyric Opera Theatre,  he is former vocal coach, pianist and conductor for the Mittelsächsiches Theater in Germany, was head of the vocal coaching program for the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria (12 years) and was Music Director of the German Opera Experience in Freiberg, Germany (10 years). In summer 2019, he joined the faculty of Spotlight on Opera as conductor and collaborative pianist and was appointed music director in 2020.

Dr. Reber has been Music Director for more than 150 productions of operas and musicals and has been conductor of the Corpus Christi (TX) ballet since 1986. As a collaborative pianist, he has performed recitals with singers and instrumentalists in Germany, Austria, Macedonia and throughout the United States. He is the pianist and music director for the annual AIDS Quilt Songbook benefit performances in Phoenix. Dr. Reber earned his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Opera and Conducting at The University of Texas at Austin.

An alumnus of Mississippi University for Women, Zane holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education. He continued his studies at the University of Mississippi,

earning a Master of Music in Vocal Performance. His education and varied experiences have shaped his teaching approach, emphasizing both technical skill and a love for music.

MUW Chamber Singers

Sopranos: Moira Cairns, Eden Cartwright, Gabrielle Foster, Katie Richardson, Kalina Tran

Altos: Beyoncé Kirkwood, Lisa Smith, Raisa Virlan

Tenors: Zachariah Harden, Jonathan Lollar

Basses: Kaloep Banks, Ricky Dubuisson II, Charles Weathersby