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.