Soprano Ariana Wyatt, pianist Tracy Cowden and cellist Benjamin Wyatt, who are guest artists from Virginia Tech, will present a recital at West Virginia University’s Creative Arts Center Saturday, Oct. 20.
The concert is called “Poe-ism,” based on works by Edgar Allan Poe and begins at 8:15 p.m. in the Bloch Learning and Performance Hall (200A). It is free and open to the public.
The recital consists entirely of songs based on texts by Poe including: “Annabelle Lee” by Henry Leslie (1822-1896); “To Helen” by Charles Martin Loeffler (1861-1935); “Ulalume” by Arthur Reginald Little; “Un R�ve” by Deodat de Severac (1872-1921); “A Dream Within a Dream” by Daron Aric Hagen (b. 1961); and “The Sleeper” by George Crumb (b. 1929).
There will also be Edgar Allan Poe songs by Beverly McLarry, including “Thou Wouldst Be Loved,” “I Heed Not That My Earthly Lot” and “Eldorado.”
Following intermission, they will perform “Spirits of the Dead,” by Gregory J. Hutter (b. 1971), also based on poems by Poe.
Tracy Cowden is associate professor of piano and vocal coach at Virginia Tech. As a collaborative pianist, she frequently performs with a diverse array of soloists and chamber ensembles. A passionate advocate for new music, she has premiered many new chamber works with colleagues around the country. She received a degree in piano accompanying and chamber music from the Eastman School of Music and a bachelor of music degree in piano performance from Western Michigan University.
Young American soprano Ariana Wyatt is a graduate of the Juilliard Opera Center and the University of Southern California, as well as the Young Artist Programs at Glimmerglass Opera, Santa Fe Opera and Florida Grand Opera. She won the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions Western Region, the Pasadena Opera and the New West Symphony Competitions, and was a finalist in the Charles A. Lyman Competition. She is currently assistant professor of music at Virginia Tech.
Cellist Benjamin Wyatt enjoys an active career as a performer and teacher. He is currently the cellist of the Avanti Ensemble and teaches in Blacksburg, Va. Wyatt has been a freelance musician in Los Angeles and New York, and has performed extensively abroad as well as at home including performances in Italy, Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Japan, Canada and Mexico. He is a graduate of the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music and the Cleveland Institute of Music.
For more information on the event, contact the College of Creative Arts at 304-293-4359 or visit http://ccarts.wvu.edu.
-WVU-
cl/10/17/12
CONTACT: Charlene Lattea, College of Creative Arts
304-293-4359, Charlene.Lattea@mail.wvu.edu
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