presents the Keith B. Moore
Classical Singers Recital
O care parolette George Frideric Handel from Orlando (1685-1759)
My True Love Hath My Heart Madeleine Dring from 6 Songs (1923-1977)
Kylie Hansen, soprano
Olena Williams, piano
Vedrai, carino Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart from Don Giovanni (1756-1791)
Du meines Herzens Krönelein, Op. 21 Richard Strauss (1864-1949)
Sawyer Randall, soprano
Olena Williams, piano
Ouvre ton cœur Georges Bizet from Seize melodies pour chant et piano (1838-1875)
Quia respexit Johann Sebastian Bach from Magnificat (1685-1750)
Kendall Hoefler, soprano
Aaron Bostwick, piano
Il poveretto Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)
The Lordly Hudson Ned Rorem (1923-2022)
Jiana Kevilus, soprano
Dr. Stephen Cook, piano
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2023 2:00 PM MCAFEE CONCERT HALL
Total Eclipse
George Frideric Handel from Samson (1685-1759)
Nebbie Ottorino Respighi (1879-1936)
Javi Castro, tenor Dr. Stephen Cook, piano
Ideale Paolo Tosti (1846-1916)
Del cabello más sutil Fernando Obradors from Canciones clásicas españolas, vol. 1 (1897-1945)
Sarah Tassin, mezzo-soprano
Lydia Warren, piano
Tell Me, Oh Blue, Blue Sky
Ich stand in dunklen Träumen
Vittorio Giannini (1903-1966)
Clara Schumann from 6 Lieder, Op. 13 (1819-1896)
Nicole McColley, soprano
Horacio Guendulain, piano
Widmung
Robert Schumann from Myrthen, Op. 25 (1810-1856)
Music When Soft Voices Die, Op. 25
Mandy Miklos, soprano
Olena Williams, piano
Must the Winter Come so Soon
Roger Quilter (1877-1953)
Samuel Barber from Vanessa (1910-1981)
Élégie
Claire Tole, mezzo-soprano
Laura Benavides, piano
Jules Massenet (1842-1912)
Ach, ich fühl’s Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart from Die Zauberflöte (1756-1791)
Art Is Calling for Me Victor Herbert from The Enchantress (1859-1924)
Isabel Koehler, soprano
Dr. Charlene Harb, piano
All are invited to the reception in the lobby following the recital.
About the Performers
Tenor Javier Castro is a sophomore Vocal Performance major from Knoxville, Tennessee, and studies voice with Dr. Mark Whatley. He is a member of Chorale, Opera Theatre, Vine Street Christian Church (as tenor section leader) and Curtains Up (as Public Relations Chair). Past performances include Tennessee Governor's Schools for the Arts: Honors Recital, Prince Charming in The Masque by Amy Tate Williams, Donkey in Shrek! The Musical, Ace Awards Best Performance Winner, and Apollo and Erysichthon in Metamorphoses. This past summer he was a young artist with Opera Lucca (in Lucca, Italy), and while there studied Italian and performed in the opera scenes program as Ferrando in Così fan Tutte and Podestà in La finta giardinera, as well as a cover for Gherardo in the full production of Gianni Schicchi
Kylie Hansen, soprano, is a sophomore Vocal Performance major from Mason City, Iowa, who is studying under Dr. Mark Whatley. Hansen is a recipient of three IHSMA Outstanding Performance awards at solo and ensemble contest and is a four-year member of the Iowa All State Chorus, as well as making All State three times for musical theater. She has an extensive theater background, taking part in over thirty productions. Hansen has been on the Dean’s list for three semesters and is part of the honors program here at Belmont. Last semester, she studied abroad in Cardiff, Wales, and while there performed on a concert with Sir Bryn Terfel, international opera star. Hansen’s future performances include playing the characters of the Owl in L’enfant et les sortilèges, and Valencienne in Merry Widow for Opera’s fall scenes, along with performances with Belmont’s Chamber Singers.
Kendall Hoefler is a senior Music Education major in the classical voice track who hails from Allen, Texas. She is the president of the Belmont chapter of the National Association for Music Education, a member of the Belmont Chorale, and a teacher’s assistant for Belmont’s Bel Canto treble choir. Recently, she was awarded the Belmont Music Education scholarship award and the Presser Scholarship thanks to the Belmont School of Music Faculty. Hoefler also performed in the Classical Singers Recital last year. In the future, she hopes to pursue a career in music education, obtaining Master of Music and Doctoral degrees and becoming a college professor. Hoefler studies voice at Belmont with Professor Mary George.
Jiana Kevilus, soprano, is a junior Vocal Performance major from San Antonio, Texas, studying with Dr. Savanna Sokolnicki. Kevilus is a member of Belmont’s Opera Theatre and has sung with the Bel Canto and Oratorio Chorus ensembles at Belmont, as well. She has also appeared in extracurricular performances with a cappella and Musical Theatre clubs here on campus. Last year, she was selected to perform in the classical voice masterclass with Nathan and Julie Gunn.
Columbus, Ohio native Isabel Koehler is in her third year at Belmont University, studying Vocal Performance with Dr. Ted Wylie. She was recently heard in Cendrillon at Belmont University and studied opera at the AIMS institute in Graz, Austria, where she sang in Ein Koffer voller Melodien: Ein Benefizkonzert für das Odilien-Institut, the Spotlight: Women of Broadway Concert, and An Evening of Fun, Silly, and Lighthearted Music recital. She also participated in an Aria Reading Masterclass with Marzio Conti during her time at AIMS. Her upcoming performances include Belmont University Opera Scenes, as Carolina in Il Matrimonio Segreto by Domenico Cimarosa. Koehler is also a member of Chorale and BSA Gospel Choir.
Soprano Nicole McColley is a sophomore Music Education major from Toms River, New Jersey. McColley is currently studying with Professor Rebekah Howell and is a member of Belmont’s Opera Theatre ensemble. She was previously a member of Bel Canto as Soprano 1 section leader and featured performer for the Spring Concert piece, “El Vito.” This past summer she was a performer at The Music Man Singing Ice Cream Shoppe on the Jersey Shore and a substitute teacher for the OCVTS Grunin Performing Arts Academy high school.
Mandy Miklos is a senior Vocal Performance major from Orland Park, Illinois. She studies with Dr. Kristi Whitten and is in Belmont’s Opera Theatre program. Miklos has played roles such as Meg in Little Women and Zerlina in Don Giovanni in Opera Scenes performances, and Maguelonne in Viardot’s Cendrillon (Belmont’s Spring opera last year). This fall, she will be heard as the Bat in L’Enfant et les sortilèges and Amelia in Amelia goes to the Ball in Belmont’s upcoming Opera Scenes production.
Sawyer Randall, soprano, is a senior Vocal Performance major from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Randall studies with Dr. Kristi Whitten and has performed with Belmont Opera Theatre as Madame Malibran in Pauline Viardot’s Cendrillon and Orpah in Ronald Becket’s Ruth. She has also performed at Belmont in opera scenes as Giulietta in Tales of Hoffman and will appear this fall in opera scenes as Laetitia from The Old Maid and the Thief by Gian Carlo Menotti. Randall participated in University Singers as a freshman, and as a sophomore and junior was a member of the Belmont Chorale.
Soprano Sarah Tassin is a senior Music Education major from Houston, Texas. She studies voice under Dr. Savanna Sokolnicki and is also a member of the Belmont Chorale. Tassin is a member of the American Choral Director’s Association and the National Association for Music Education. She previously interned with the Nashville Children’s Chorus and is now a Sunday school music teacher at City Church of East Nashville. Tassin has been on the Dean’s list for seven semesters at Belmont.
Claire Tole, mezzo-soprano, is a junior Vocal Performance major and German minor from Dripping Springs, Texas. Tole studies voice with Dr. Mark Whatley and has performed in Belmont Theatre scenes as Old Lady from Candide and as a party guest in Belmont's opera Cendrillion. Later in October, she will perform in the Belmont opera scenes as Miss Todd in The Old Maid and the Thief and The Fox in L'Enfant et les sortilèges. She was a young artist at the Opera Lucca Program in Lucca, Italy, this past summer. Tole holds positions in several on-campus organizations, such as Bruin Recruiters, and is a member of the sorority Phi Mu. She has been on the Dean's list for four semesters at Belmont.
Guest Adjudicators
Will Perkins is a diverse performer who has enjoyed singing lead roles in opera, operetta, and musical theatre. A Utah native, he now teaches voice at Middle Tennessee State University and directs their opera program. Recent engagements have included the role of Peter in Lamb of God at the Salt Lake Tabernacle; tenor soloist in Bach’s Magnificat with the Concert Chorale of Nashville; and serving as the artistic director of Brigham Young University’s Broadway Bootcamp. During the summer of 2023, Dr. Perkins was selected as a participant of the National Association of Teachers of Singing Intern Program where he was mentored under the guidance of international opera star Nathan Gunn.
Maori-American baritone David Tahere loves collaboration and storytelling through music. Operatic credits include Mr. Potter (It’s a Wonderful Life), Sam (Trouble in Tahiti), Malatesta (Don Pasquale), Ramiro (l’Heure Espagnole), Le Gendarme (Les Mamelles de Tirésias), Saint Peter (Too Many Sopranos), Haraš-ta (Cunning Little Vixen), Olin Blitch (Susannah), and Daniel Webster (The Mother of Us All). Tahere has been a featured soloist with the Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia, Philadelphia Chamber Chorus, Chattanooga Choral Arts Society, Chattanooga Bach Choir, and Tenth Concert Series, under the batons of highly regarded conductors like Andrew Altenbach, David Neeley, Cristian Macelaru, Arthur Fagen, and Helmuth Rilling. A lover of song, Tahere was a finalist in the 2023 Joy in Singing International Art Song Competition and a three-time fellow at SongFest, working closely with Graham Johnson, Martin Katz, Sir Thomas Allen, Jake Heggie, and Sanford Sylvan. He is currently Assistant Professor of Voice at Covenant College.
Keith B. Moore Classical Singers Recital
The Classical Singers Recital began in 1992 as a way to provide an extra performance opportunity for our most outstanding classical vocal students each year in the School of Music. In 2019, the recital was renamed in honor of Professor Emeritus Dr. Keith B. Moore, who taught classical voice at Belmont for thirty-eight years and served as Coordinator of the Vocal Program in the School of Music. A teacher, administrator, leader, and musical performer, Dr. Moore provided organization and leadership to one of the largest vocal programs in the country. He also served as a conductor, pianist, singer, and vocal pedagogue. Beyond Belmont, he gave numerous concert and operatic performances, including many roles with Nashville Opera and Tennessee Opera Theatre. Dr. Moore was also an active recording session artist, having sung background vocals on recordings with Amy Grant, Larnell Harris, Steve Green, Michael Crawford, Sandy Patti, and Michael W. Smith.
The ten performers for today’s Keith B. Moore Classical Singers Recital auditioned and were selected by guest adjudicators. These students represent a variety of study within the Belmont School of Music, which offers numerous majors in Classical Voice, including Church Music, Music Education, Music Performance, Musical Theatre, and Music Therapy, as well as graduate degrees in Pedagogy and Performance. Students in the Classical Voice area receive an education that is both challenging and nurturing, studying a wide range of musical styles and repertoire in a thriving Christian environment.
Upcoming Concerts and Events
Woods Piano Concert Series Jon Nakamatsu
Tuesday, October 3, 7:30 p.m.
McAfee Concert Hall
Physical Therapy for the Vocal Athlete
Friday, October 6, 10:00 a.m.
Wilson Music Building 121
Concert Band and Wind Ensemble
Friday, October 6, 7:30 p.m.
McAfee Concert Hall
Musical Theatre: Working
Friday, October 6, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 7, 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, October 8, 2:00 p.m.
Massey Concert Hall
Tickets for this event are required and can be reserved through the Belmont Box Office.
For more information on upcoming concerts and events, please visit https://cmpaevents.belmont.edu/, follow us on Instagram @belmontcmpa, or “like” Belmont University School of Music on Facebook.
