November 1, 2012 (Jackson) - As part of the 2012 Mississippi Music Teachers Association Fall Conference being held at Belhaven this year, American tenor, Richard Heard will perform for the Guest Artist Recital on November 2. Dr. Theresa Sanchez, piano soloist, will accompany him during the concert. This performance is free and open to the public and begins at 7:30 p.m. in Belhaven’s Center for the Arts Concert Hall.
Heard is among the top concert singers in America and is the Associate Music Professor at Wake Forest University. He is a regional finalist of the Metropolitan Opera Auditions and he has received prestigious awards and grants from the National Society of Arts and Letters, Rotary International, the Fuchs Opera Awards and Mu Phi Epsilon. Heard specializes in the works of Bach, Handel, Haydn, and Mozart.
Dr. Sanchez has presented recitals worldwide and has been a pianist with the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, the Mississippi Wind Symphony, The University of Southern Mississippi Symphony Orchestra and The Wind Ensemble.
This concert titled, “Art Songs and Spirituals by African-American Composers” will feature the songs of Florence Price. Price’s music consist of mostly American dialogue that reveals her Southern roots, she is considered the first African American woman in the United States to be recognized as a symphonic composer. Heard recently released a compact disc featuring the songs of Florence Price that he will be performing at the recital.
Belhaven University stands among select Christian colleges and universities and has been repeatedly named one of “America’s 100 Best College Buys." The University offers 30 academic majors across a full spectrum of disciplines as well as a variety of graduate programs. In addition, Belhaven has achieved the distinction of being among only 30 universities nationally accredited in each of the major arts – music, theatre, visual art and dance. All programs are taught from a Christian worldview perspective and are guided by the mission to prepare students academically and spiritually to serve Christ Jesus in their careers, in human relationships, and in the world of ideas.
Belhaven University serves over 3,700 students offering undergraduate and graduate degrees on its residential campus, an online degree program, and graduate and adult degree programs in Jackson, Memphis, Orlando, Houston, Chattanooga, and Atlanta.