Opera Scenes Concert, 2024 Opening Night
voice
Senior Voice Recital – Tiffani Jernigan, soprano
New Music at the W Concert
Program
Odd Times – Valentin M. Bogdan (Mississippi University for Women)
Valentin Bogdan and Julia Mortyakova, piano
Midnight Glowing on Horseback – Alan Goldspiel (University of Montevallo)
Electronic Playback
Legacies – Hannah Adhikari (W Music Alumna)
Hannah Adhikari, piano
Life Sequences, Mvt. 1 & Mvt. III – Charles Weathersby (W Music Student composer)
Ginger Zingara, flute
“May I ask you to…?” – Ivan Elezovic (Jackson State University)
Electronic Playback
Impromptu No. 1 – Hannah Adhikari
Hannah Adhikari, piano
Etudes for Solo Piano – Valentin M. Bogdan
- Introduction
- Basso Ostinato
- Sets
- Aug
Program Notes
Odd Times is a work loosely based on the Sonata Allegro form. Composed during the challenging period of the pandemic lockdown, it serves as an allegorical representation of the uncertainty that characterized this unprecedented era.
Midnight Glowing on Horseback juxtaposes surrealist ideas and classical formal structures within its left to right time-based electronic playback. The audio events combine and mix samples of ordinary objects, instruments, synthesized sound, and Salvadore Dali discussing his moustache. The slightly bizarre mix of elements, rarely all that jarring, and maybe nonsensical, combine to conjure a mental image – midnight glowing on horseback? – or perhaps to merely create an awake dream.
Legacies – A piano solo for Grief. Whether it be family or friend, all loss is loss. May this melody bring out your memories together that still live on.
“May I ask you to…?” The main approach of the piece leaves the listener in an unexpected and confused state produced by interactions among the characters of the piece. The appearance of ignorance and sometimes irony causes communication to be very difficult, and in some instances impossible. The mixture of hesitated questions, observations, and attempts at clarification produces even further confusion with occasional comical events.
Life Sequences is a 3-movement piece composed for flute. Each movement begins with a sequence that is repeated and manipulated to develop the movement. This set of movements at the time of composition was an introspective reflection of a sequence of life events. However, each listener is free to interpret them in their own way.
Impromptu No. 1– A piano solo to remind us of our Childhood. We can find magic in life again when we see the world through a lense of love.
Etudes for Solo Piano This set of apply the meaning of the word etude, “study”, not only to the performer, but also to the audience and composer. Some of the writing is meant to challenge the pianist, similarly to the etudes of past major composers, while some of these etudes are the result of the composer challenging himself to make the most use of certain techniques. Finally, some of these works involve the listeners; they are asked to create their own understanding of what they hear, as part of an intellectual challenge.
Songs of the Theatre Fall 2023 Concert
The W Jazz Ensemble Fall 2023 Concert
PROGRAM
Senior Voice Recital – Aaron Rishel, baritone
PROGRAM
Im Frühling – Franz Schubert
Ganymed – Franz Schubert
Sonntag – Johannes Brahms
Deh vieni alla finestra from Don Giovanni – W.A. Mozart
La ci darem la mano from Don Giovanni – W.A. Mozart
with Tiffani Jernigan, soprano
When I was One and Twenty – George Butterworth
Is My Team Ploughing from Six Songs from a Shropshire Lad – George Butterworth
I Never Knew from AIDS Quilt Songbook – Ricky Ian Gordon
Walt Whitman in 1989 from AIDS Quilt Songbook – Chris DeBlasio
Avant de quitter ces lieux from Faust – Charles Gounod
Agony from Into the Woods – Steven Sondheim
with Ricky Dubuisson II, baritone
Losing My Mind from Follies – Steven Sondheim
BIOGRAPHY
Aaron Rishel is a senior studying vocal performance at The W. Aaron was very active performing in musical theatre for the past decade on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. He was a student of Westley Hodges for voice, piano, and saxophone; Brandon Ring for voice, MGCCC Perkinston Campus; and currently studies under the tutelage of Dr. Susan Hurley.
He enjoyed attending the Junior Theater Festival in Atlanta for many years and working with iTheatrics in New York City during the summers helping to make musicals into versions for students. Aaron was also cast with iTheatrics All-Star National JTF Europe Cast and performed at the inaugural JTF Europe, Birmingham, UK, in May 2019.
Aaron would like to thank everyone who has supported him throughout his endeavors.
This recital is given in partial fulfillment of degree requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in Music (Performance).
Aaron Rishel is from the studio of Dr. Susan Hurley.
Fall Recital 2023
Senior Voice Recital – Shakia Butler, soprano
PROGRAM
El Majo Timido – Enrique Granados
Chi vuol la zingarella – Giovanni Paisíello
Panis Angelicus – César Franck
Deep River – Moses Hogan
It’s Me, O Lord – Betty King Jackson
The Trolley Song from Meet Me in St. Louis – Ralph Blane & Hugh Martin
Stay with Me from Into the Woods – Stephen Sondheim
Almost There from The Princess and the Frog – Randy Newman
It’s a Quiet Thing from Flora the Red Menace – John Kander & Fred Ebb
Believe in Yourself from The Wiz – Charlie Smalls
BIOGRAPHY
Shakia Butler is a senior studying Music Education at the W. She will be graduating this December after completion of her internship. Shakia is a very active singer and actor who was born and raised in Columbus, MS by her parents Ricky and Felecia Butler. She grew up here singing with her sisters, church choir, and praise team. Before coming to the W, she gained her A.S. degree before her high school diploma at Golden Triangle Early College Highschool.
She has been in many productions since she was 8 years old: The Nutcracker, Honor and Respect, Aladdin, Handsome and the Red Chief, and many more. She has served in many choirs in schools and in the community. Her achievements consist of winning “Most Outstanding Vocalist” in Atlanta’s Music in the Park Festival; placing top honors in NATS here at the W during her freshman year; and placing 2nd in NATS Regionals last spring. Above all else, she enjoys serving as Praise and Worship Leader at A.I.J.C Church in West Point, MS.
She looks forward to sharing the beauty, joy, and inspiration that music brings to those who listen. Her goal and passion is to speak life, teach truth, and love into others through the gift of music. May God’s Grace, Mercy, Favor and Blessings be with you from this day and forward. She thanks the W and appreciates everyone who came tonight to share her gift with you all!
Joe L. Alexander Tribute Concert
PROGRAM
All songs performed this evening were composed by Dr. Joe L. Alexander.
Two Bryant Songs: 1. Song (These Prairies Glow with Flowers), 2. November – Tiffani Jernigan, soprano (MUW) & Kelly Williams (MUW, class of 2022)
Soundscapes for guitar and soundfile – Alan Goldspiel, guitar (University of Montevallo)
Drowned – Susan Hurley, soprano (MUW) & William Reber (MUW)
Salonika Fantasy – Daniel Immel, piano (Kutztown University of Pennsylvania)
Red Mountain Overture – Video Performance by the University of Alabama at Birmingham Chamber Trio: Denise Gainey, clarinet; James Zingara, trumpet; Chris Steele, piano
Summer Sounds Beckon Me & Blue Jay, Sing a Tune – MUW Chamber Singers directed by William Reber, director (MUW) & accompanied by Valentin M Bogdan, pianist
In Loving Memory of
Composer, tubist, and theory pedagogist, Dr. Joe L. Alexander, joined the Mississippi University of Women’s music faculty in the Fall of 2016. His music has been performed throughout the United States, Ecuador, Germany, Greece, Italy, Russia, Rwanda, Scotland and South Korea. His compositions have been performed on recitals at conferences of the Birmingham Art Music Alliance; the International Trumpet Guild Conference; the Louisiana Composers’ Consortium; the National Association of Composers, USA (NACUSA); the National Association of College Wind and Percussion Instructors; the Society of Composers, Inc.; the College Music Society; the Southeastern Composers’ League, the International Tuba Euphonium Conference, and the NACUSA National Festival.
Dr. Alexander loved teaching and he was beloved by generations of his students. He will be missed.
AIDS QUILT SONGBOOK: A Lecture Recital
NOTE: this event includes content with mature themes – illness, death, gender expression and sexuality – that may not be suitable for children.
Concert starts at 7:30 p.m. in Poindexter Hall, Connie Sills Kossen Auditorium.
Presented by Dr. Susan Hurley, soprano & Dr. William Reber, piano
Program
I. Introduction
Fury
Words by Susan Snively & Music by Donald Wheelock
Heartbeats
Words by Melvin Dixon & Music by John Musto
I Never Knew
Words and Music by Ricky Ian Gordon
Walt Whitman in 1989
Words by Perry Brass & Music by Chris DeBlasio
III. HIV past and present
Her Final Show
Words by Rafael Campo & Music by Drew Hemenger
Hold On
Words from a Pueblo Prayer & Music by Gilda Lyons
V. Comments on the next three songs
One Child
Words by Sara Cooper & Music by Gregg Kallor
Atripla!
Words from a prescription drug label & Music by Eric Reda
At Last
Words by Wendell Berry & Music by Scott Gendel
Artists’ Biographies
Soprano Susan Hurley has performed internationally in repertoire ranging from opera and musical theatre to concert and recital literature, singing 25 principal operatic roles. She is the founding Artistic Director of Phoenix AZ’s annual AIDS Quilt Songbook performance project, now in its tenth year. Currently Associate Professor of Voice at Mississippi University for Women, Dr. Hurley has presented talks and lecture recitals on the AIDS Quilt Songbook at the International Congress of Voice Teachers, Southern Regional NATS, the Mississippi Governor’s School, and at universities and professional associations throughout the South. She earned her Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Arizona State University. Her research into the Tomatis Method for singers appeared as a chapter in the 2020 book, “So You Want to Sing with Awareness.”
William Reber, pianist/music directorhas been conductor and music director for over 150 productions of operas, musicals, and ballets around the world. He is principal conductor of the Corpus Christi Ballet and Music Director for Spotlight on Opera. He served for 23 years as Artistic Director of ASU’s Lyric Opera Theatre and is Professor Emeritus at Arizona State University. He is currently Director of Choirs at Mississippi University for Women.