News and upcoming events from the DSU Department of Music
Department of Music
April 2019
Photo: Students enrolled in the opera workshop are working with the guest stage director during Stage Savvy presentation. Pictured are (from left) Austin Means, junior; Amber Browning, first year; Zathomasious (Tiko) Jones, sophomore; Jayla Isom, sophomore; and Dr. Price.
The Opera/Musical Theater Workshop had a successful recruiting/performing trip to Horn Lake High School and Center Hill High School on April 5. The program consisted of seven scenes from opera and musical theater and a Q & A session.
Our students shared their experiences at DSU with about 35 students at Horn Lake and about 50 students at Center Hill. This was the first off campus performance for us and we all enjoyed performing for the supportive audiences of the high school students and choral directors. The students who were on the trip were Amber Browning, freshman; JaMareus Freeman, freshman; Jayla Isom, sophomore; Tiko Jones, sophomore; Saavedra Martin, freshman; and Austin Means, junior. I served as collaborative pianist for all seven scenes.
The Opera/Musical Theater Workshop welcomed Dr. Henry Price from Pepperdine University for a two-day workshop on March 1-2, 2019. His credentials include singing at the New York City Opera, Metropolitan Opera, and Wolf Trap Opera, among others. While he was at the New York City Opera, he sang opposite Beverly Sills.
The schedule of the workshop consisted of lectures on acting, role study, and auditions/competitions, work on four scenes, German diction coaching, and a Q & A session. The students in the class learned many important aspects of singing and acting. As this event was a faculty development opportunity for me as well, I gained valuable information that will be used in my future stage directing. We all were benefited by Dr. Price’s well organized, informative, and thoughtful sessions. Based on what we learned from the workshop, we have been working on the scenes for our public performance on Tuesday, April 23, 2019 (7:30pm, in the Recital Hall). The event was partially supported by Dulce Fund.
Seven students have been selected to perform in the annual Department of Music Honors Recital. Students are selected based on academic achievement and a performance audition for DSU Music faculty. The recital will take place on April 15, 2019 in the DP&L Theatre of the Bologna Performing Arts Center on the DSU campus. The recital is free and open to the public.
(L-R) Young Hye Min, piano, junior piano performance major from Ulsan, South Korea Sung-Eun Ryu, piano, junior piano performance major from Hwaseeong-si, Gyeeonggi-do, South Korea Semi Dong, piano, junior piano performance major from Seoul, South Korea Dakota Young, alto saxophone, senior music education and performance major from Grenada, MS Yeim Kim, piano, sophomore performance major from Seoul, South Korea Ethan Baker, alto saxophone, Junior music education and performance major from Senatobia, MS Taylor Burks, marimba, senior percussion performance major from Belmont, MS.
Burks is from the studio of Dr. Josh Armstrong. Ryu and Dong are students of Dr. Karen Fosheim. Young and Baker are students of Dr. Bret Pimentel. Min and Kim are students of Dr. Jung-Won Shin
Delta State University Chorale Spring Concert
The Delta State University Chorale will present their return from tour and annual spring concert on Tuesday, April 16, 2019 at 7:30 pm in the Bologna Performing Arts Center. This ensemble of gifted musicians, represent the best of students from the vocal program of the music department in Cleveland, Mississippi. The Chorale, conducted by Dr. Julia Thorn, is looking forward to performing much of the March tour music for the last time in their home concert hall.
There will be a tremendous variety of musical style represented on the program. Beloved composers, Handel and Brahms will be complimented by music of artists that are actively writing today. The audience will be treated to compositions which include folk songs, musical theater arrangements, spirituals, and classical works. In addition to the Chorale, a newly formed chamber ensemble will present madrigals, shaker tunes, and a delightful work In Vino Veritas (in wine the truth) that is a favorite of the students.
A special piece on the program, Only In Sleep, will pay tribute to the generosity of Margaret Walker. Mrs. Walker has been a major benefactor to the choral program in the past by financing special performances and continuing tour endeavors. The Chorale is delighted to dedicate this beautiful work for choir and faculty soprano soloist, Laurissa Backlin, to Mrs. Walker.
“I have so enjoyed my work with the students of Chorale and Chamber Singers throughout this year. They are an incredible group of young musicians that are dedicated to learning to sing to the best of their abilities. They are bright individuals who bring to the ensemble a sense of pride in belonging to this musical organization which has grown in quality tremendously this year. Their love of singing is evident as they have the opportunity to share through choral music something far greater than they could do as individuals. As the conductor, I am happy to be a part of this very special musical community,” explains Dr. Thorn.
Julia Thorn, Director of Choral Activities graduated with BM and MM degrees in Voice from Loyola University in New Orleans and a DMA degree in Conducting from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. She was Professor of Music at Centenary College in Shreveport, LA and Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, PA before accepting the Vocal Coordinator position at Delta State.
Faculty News
Dr. Kumiko Shimizu was invited to serve as one of the collaborative pianists for the North American Saxophone Alliance Undergraduate Classical Solo Competition held at the University of Mississippi on March 22. To prepare for this competition, She rehearsed with eight finalists for about 7 hours on March 21. She also performed as a Guest Artist Recital with Dr. James Shearer, tuba, from New Mexico State University during the DSU Tuba/Euphonium Day on March 30.
In May, 10 DSU music students and 4 faculty will travel to Seoul, South Korea. While there, they will perform at Sungkyul University and recruit at area high schools. Faculty will also conduct masterclasses and give lectures.
Participants are holding several fund-raisers to help with the cost of this travel. Please consider making a donation to the effort and join us at the upcoming concert!
Mark your calendar!
Honor’s Recital: April 15, 2019 (Auditions March 26, 6 pm)
Exchange with Sungkyul University in South Korea: May 19-27, 2019
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The Department of Music at Delta State University offers undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, music education, and music performance. The department accepts donations through the Delta State University Foundation to support scholarships, student events and projects, and purchase of instructional materials. For more information on degrees or making a contribution, call the Music Office at 662-846-4615, or send email to music@deltastate.edu.
