Faculty Recital: Dawn Pierce, Mezzo-Soprano - My Native Land Dawn Pierce
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Ithaca College Digital Commons @ IC All Concert & Recital Programs Concert & Recital Programs 4-15-2011 Faculty Recital: Dawn Pierce, mezzo-soprano - My Native Land Dawn Pierce Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.ithaca.edu/music_programs Part of the Music Commons Recommended Citation Pierce, Dawn, "Faculty Recital: Dawn Pierce, mezzo-soprano - My Native Land" (2011). All Concert & Recital Programs. 171. http://digitalcommons.ithaca.edu/music_programs/171 This Program is brought to you for free and open access by the Concert & Recital Programs at Digital Commons @ IC. It has been accepted for inclusion in All Concert & Recital Programs by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ IC. My Native Land Faculty Recital dawn pierce, mezzo-soprano Charis Dimaras, piano Hockett Family Recital Hall Friday, April 15, 2011 8:15 p.m. Folk Songs Zion's Walls arr. Aaron Copland (1900-1990) All My Trials arr. Ruth Elaine Schram (b. 1956) The Lass from the Low Countree John Jacob Niles (1892-1980) *Ol' Dan Tucker arr. Dave Dunbar (b. 1945) Art Songs White Moon Ruth Crawford Seeger (1901-1953) Barter Simon Sargon (b. 1938) *One Art Charles Grant Carey (b. 1991) Waitin' William Bolcom (b. 1938) Brother Will, Brother John John Sacco (1905-1987) Opera Arias How Strange Men Are Kirke Mechem Tartuffe (b. 1925) Things Change, Jo Mark Adamo Little Women (b. 1962) What a movie! Leonard Bernstein Trouble in Tahiti (1918-1990) Intermission Spirituals *Deep River arr. John Conahan (b. 1974) Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child arr. Henry T. Burleigh (1866-1949) *Every Time I Feel the Spirit arr. Thomas Jefferson Peters (b. 1987) Sweet Little Jesus Boy Robert MacGimsey (1898-1979) Wade in the Water Mark Hayes (b. 1949) Musical Theater My Favorite Things Richard Rogers The Sound of Music (1902-1979) I wish I could forget you Stephen Sondheim Passion (b. 1930) *Somewhere Over the Rainbow arr. Benjamin Costello The Wizard of Oz (b. 1975) America Leonard Bernstein West Side Story (1918-1990) * world premiere Dedications My Native Land is about more than just America, and American composers; it is about my personal journey as an artist. I have created this program in honor of the most influential teachers and mentors in my musical life. AMERICAN FOLK SONGS are dedicated to my Uncle David and Auntie Margaret. They opened up to me the world to classical music. From elementary music class, piano lessons, and my first composition contest, to high school musicals, All-State Choirs, and college auditions: Uncle David and Auntie Margaret were there every step of the way. Thanks, Bepa and Mia, for the encouragement, and for investing in your niece. AMERICAN ART SONGS are dedicated to my private voice teachers. They helped me find my voice in so many shapes and forms. Carol: You taught me about my body and person, and gave me the grounding I needed to get through life and song. Thank you for your wisdom and guidance. For this set, I chose one piece assigned by each primary teacher during my studies with them: Brother Will, Brother John (Carol McAmis) White Moon (Elizabeth Mannion) Waitin’ (Marilyn Taylor) Barter (Penelope Bitzas) AMERICAN OPERA set is for Will Graham. Has mentored me on every level with a genuine love and support. Will: Your inspired stage direction introduced me to a new level of work and spawned confidence in stagecraft, and in myself. With Will’s mentorship and guidance, I had the opportunity to work with both Mechem and Adamo on the operas in this set. SPIRITUALS are dedicated to Larry Doebler and Janet Galvan. They gave me musicianship skills and wonderful opportunities. Mr. Doebler: You helped me release my inner voice with selfless, gentle guidance. You engendered confidence in me, and a deep understanding of music, movement, legato, and harmony. Dr. Galvan: You gave me invaluable opportunities for exploring leadership skills and real-world music making. These experiences formed the linchpin of my young career. *Deep River was especially arranged for me by fellow Ithaca College Choir member, John Conahan in honor of Larry Doebler and his inspiring work in all of our lives. MUSICAL THEATRE set is for Benjamin Costello. He believed in me before I believed in myself. He took a chance on me and made an investment. Benjamin: You planted a seed that has blossomed into my life and passion. You continue to support my journey, and I am so grateful! Biographies dawn pierce Mezzo-soprano dawn pierce is a native of Olean, New York. On the operatic stage, she recently performed Madelon and Bersi in Andrea Chenier with Nashville Opera, Dorabella in Così Fan Tutte with Pensacola Opera, Metella in La Vie Parisienne with Lake George Opera, and Tisbe in La Cenerentola at Opera Carolina. On the lighter side her credits include The Grand Dutchess in The Student Prince with Nashville Opera, Franca in The Light in the Piazza with Piedmnot Opera and Jo in Little Women with Opera in the Ozarks. A winner in the Metropolitan Opera District Competition, Dawn received a performing artist certificate in Opera Performance and a master’s degree in Voice from the North Carolina School of the Arts. She holds bachelor degrees in Vocal Performance and Music Education from Ithaca College In her free time, Dawn enjoys making jewelry, reading, dancing, and weight training. Charis Dimaras Greek concert pianist, Charis Dimaras, has presented numerous solo recitals, has collaborated in chamber music concerts and has been featured as soloist with orchestras throughout Europe, Turkey, Russia, Brazil, Canada and the USA. He has been the recipient of several awards (such as, the British Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music Award, the Alexandros S. Onasis Beneficiary Foundation Scholarship and the International Richard-Wagner-Foundation Scholarship) and has won top prizes in several competitions (such as, the 1st prize at the “Conferenza Musicale Mediterannea” piano competition in Palermo/Sicily, as well as 1st prizes in the “Holland Music Sessions” chamber music contest at the Concertgebouw of Amsterdam and the “Artists International” and “Joy in Singing” chamber music contests in New York City). Elsewhere, he has been featured on NY’s WQXR, on several Dutch, Italian and Greek radio stations and on Greek national TV and has recorded works by Franck, Bartok, Prokofiev & Stravinsky. His latest CD featuring piano works by contemporary Greek composers D. Mitropoulos and Y. Sicilianos was released last November by Greek Record Company IRIDA Classical (to coincide with Mitropoulos’ 50th death anniversary). Dr. Dimaras, who holds degrees in piano performance from the Royal College of Music in London/England and from New York’s Juilliard School and Manhattan School of Music, is currently Associate Professor of Piano and Collaborative Studies at Ithaca College. Elsewhere, in 2008, he was the Artistic Director of an international summer festival of Classical Music in Sparti/Greece and in the Spring of 2010 he presented a series of 4 lecture-recitals on the history and evolution of the Classical Sonata form for the Lifelong Education Program of the Philharmonic Center, also in Naples/FL. During a 2006-07 sabbatical leave from Ithaca College, Dr. Dimaras completed an additional Master’s Degree in orchestral conducting at Bard College. Since then, he has also appeared as guest conductor on both sides of the Atlantic, with such orchestras as the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra and the Symphony Orchestra of the Greek National Opera. Special Guest Performers TROUBLE IN TAHITI WEST SIDE STORY Aidan Boardman, music director Mark Webster, Bernardo Andrew Mattfeld, rehearsal Jason Wilber, music director & piano accompanist Lindsey Bullen, choreographer DeAnne Stewart, choreography ENSEMBLE ENSEMBLE Jessica Bennett Taylor Eike Lindsey Bullen Rachel Mikol Melissa Daneke Anna Kimble Susan Davies Katrina Kuka Ben Fankhauser Aidan Boardman Jenna Fishback Tom Riley Joseph Fritz John Gardner Rachel Mikol Hillary Robbins Avery Sobczak Thank you!!! SPECIAL THANK YOUS: Dave Dunbar, Charles Grant Carey, John Conahan, Thomas Jefferson Peters, and Benjamin Costello for their beautiful compositions. My students for their unending support, flexibility, and hard work. To Marc Webster and the many student performers in my program for sharing their time and talent. To Jason Wilbur, Lindsey Bullen, Aidan Boardman and Andrew Mattfeld for their preparation of America and What a Movie ensembles. To my mother for organizing the reception and to family, and amazing friends for always supporting my work and my person. To Kris Shanton, James Pfrehm, and Peg Dunbar for their assistance with program notes. Program Notes FOLK SONG Folk song music has no real nameable origin, it is considered a “roots music” as it is often the basis for music developed later in the United States. It’s more tradition than entertainment. The origins of folk music are generally attributed to the working class. It is community focused, something everyone can understand. For these reasons, throughout American history the people have recruited folk music for protest, comfort, or celebration. Aaron Copland was born in Brooklyn, NY, the youngest child of Russian immigrants. After years of study, Copland was determined to create a distinctively American music. He developed collaborations and concert series that furthered not only his own career, but also those of many other young American composers. “Zion’s Walls” is a Revivalist song of the 1800s by John G. McClurry. The original text is “the praises of Jesus,” which he changed to “the praises on Zion” with respect to his Jewish heritage. John Jacob Niles came from a musical family who taught him the basics of theory and composition. He was attracted to folk songs while working as a surveyor in the Appalachians. After serving in World War I he became a folk singer specializing in performing and arranging the songs of the Appalachian Mountain region.