Local Faces Lyon College Music Department’s Spring 2023 Schedule

Carol Langston

From classical, jazz and Celtic music to a musical-theatre production and student creative arts and research forum, the Lyon College Music department has something for everyone this spring – with most events free and open to the public. Location for all events is the Brown Fine Arts Building on the Lyon College campus, 2300 Highland Rd., Batesville.

The spring 2023 season got underway Sunday, Jan. 29 with a guest faculty recital, “The Magic of the Piano,” featuring Harding University professor and director of piano studies Scott Carrell.

Following is Lyon College’s spring 2023 schedule of music events:

“Chess” / Lyon College Musical Theatre Production, Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 9-11, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 12, 2 p.m. in the Sloan Auditorium, Brown Fine Arts Building, Lyon College, 2300 Highland Rd., Batesville. Kristian Ameigh is Stage Director, with original music by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus of ABBA and lyrics by Ulvaeus and Tim Rice. “Chess” is the story of an American chess champion, his Russian opponent who defects to the west, and a Hungarian born American who transfers her affections from the American to the Russian. $10 general admission; free admission for Lyon College students, faculty and staff with ID.

Jerry Fields and the Journey of Jazz, Monday, Feb. 20, 7:30 p.m. at the Sloan Auditorium, Brown Fine Arts Building Lyon College, 2300 Highland Rd., Batesville. Atlanta-based jazz trio presents an evening of jazz music with special guests Eric South and Tim Crouch. The free event is open to the public.

World Music Night, Thursday, March 16, 5 p.m. in the Bevens Music Room, Brown Fine Arts Building, Lyon College, 2300 Highland Rd., Batesville. A celebration of Celtic music and music from around the world. The free event is open to the public.

Quapaw String Quartet, Sunday, March 26 at 3 p.m. in the Bevens Music Room, Brown Fine Arts Building, Lyon College, 2300 Highland Rd., Batesville. Founded in 1980 as the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra resident quartet, the Quapaw Quartet will perform selections of old and new masterpieces from the string quartet canon. The free event is open to the public.

Composers Forum, Thursday, March 30, Noon in the Bevens Music Room, Brown Fine Arts Building, Lyon College, 2300 Highland Rd., Batesville. Lyon College composers will premiere their own works, performed by campus musicians. The free event is open to the public.

2023 Student Creative Arts and Research Forum (SCARF), Wednesday, April 12, 4:30-8:30 p.m. in the Sloan Auditorium and Bevens Music Room, Brown Fine Arts Building, Lyon College, 2300 Highland Rd., Batesville. Organized by Lyon College’s Mortar Board chapter and SCARF Committee, the event features Lyon College students, who will showcase their research, art and projects. The free event is open to the public.

Faculty Recital: Die schöne Müllerin (The Beautiful Miller’s Daughter) D 795 by Franz Schubert. Michael Oriatti, Tenor, Kristian Ameigh, Piano, Saturday, April 15, 3 p.m. in the Bevens Music Room, Brown Fine Arts Building, Lyon College, 2300 Highland Rd., Batesville. A musical offering of the 20 songs comprising the 1823 song cycle by Schubert. The free event is open to the public.

Gospel Choir Concert: “The Promised Hope”, Sunday, April 16, 4 p.m. in the Sloan Auditorium, Brown Fine Arts Building, Lyon College, 2300 Highland Rd., Batesville. Barretta Robinson, Director / Sonya Rucker, Assistant Director / Justin Shaw, Accompanist. The Lyon College Gospel Choir joins guest gospel choirs from the region in prayerful songs of praise. The free event is open to the public.

Student Recital, Tuesday, April 18, 7:30 p.m. in the Sloan Auditorium, Brown Fine Arts Building, Lyon College, 2300 Highland Rd., Batesville. Lyon College music students perform vocal and instrumental selections of classical and popular music. The free event is open to the public.

Spring Band Concert, Tuesday, April 25, 7:30 p.m. in the Sloan Auditorium, Brown Fine Arts Building, Lyon College, 2300 Highland Rd., Batesville. Fredrick Brown, Conductor. The Lyon College Symphonic Winds and Jazz Band perform under the direction of Fredrick Brown. Reception will follow in Bevens Music Room. The free event is open to the public.

Spring Choral Concert, Friday, April 28, 7:30 p.m. in the Sloan Auditorium, Brown Fine Arts Building, Lyon College, 2300 Highland Rd., Batesville. Michael Oriatti, Conductor. The Lyon College Concert Chorale and Batesville Choral Society perform choral music from the Early to Modern repertoire. The free event is open to the public.

Duo Senior Lecture/Recital, Garrett Russell and Logan Richerson, Saturday, May 6, 7:30 p.m. in the Bevens Music Room, Brown Fine Arts Building, Lyon College, 2300 Highland Rd., Batesville. A lecture and performance of the new album project re-envisioning folk music from the John Quincy Wolf collection. The free event is open to the public.