Cameron University piano and vocal students share the stage to present Soirée XI: Moonstruck

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Cameron University piano students of Dr. Hyunsoon Whang will move from classroom to performance to demonstrate their accompanying skills. They will accompany six CU vocal students in a recital that will allow both pianists and vocalists to shine during “Soiree XI: Moonstruck,” slated for Thursday, February 27, at 7:30 p.m. in the McCutcheon Recital Hall. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for senior/military/ non-Cameron students. CU students, faculty and staff are admitted free with CU I.D.

Students scheduled to perform are pianists Jacob Austin and Chelsea Mitchell, Cache; Brittany Dabbs,

Thadyn DuPont, Malcolm Gehlbach, Lawton, and Gabe Willbourn, Tulsa. Vocalists sharing the stage are Mikayla Stephenson, Duncan; Khalil Cabera-Tosado, David Gracia, Corbyn Nauman, Lawton, Destiny Abila, Altus; and Heather Martin, Cache.

“Performing as an accompanist differs from performing as a soloist in several ways,” Austin says. “The thing I enjoy as an accompanist is getting to work with other musicians. Putting a song together and perfecting it with the vocalist involves teamwork. I find it to be a really rewarding and fun experience. Performing as an accompanist is a much more enjoyable experience versus performing as a soloist because there isn’t as much pressure.”

As with previous “Soiree” performances, Soiree XI: Moonstruck will present a themed program of chamber music in an intimate setting. Whang has selected the moon as the theme for this performance.

“The moon has been an inspiration for many musical compositions throughout history,” she says. “Our voice faculty, Dr. Greg Hoepfner and Dr. Christen Morren, and I have been working with these 12 talented students to prepare for the unique offering.”

Pianists will perform two well-known solo compositions, Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor, popularly known as “Moonlight Sonata,” and Debussy’s “Clair de Lune.” Vocal students will join them to sing Lieder and Arias related to the moon, including Mozart’s “Abendempfindung,” Schumann’s “Mondnacht,” Brahms’ “Die Mainacht,” Faure’s “Clair de Lune,” Dvorak’s celebrated “Song to the Moon” from Opera Rusalka, and Bellini’s “Vaga luna.” The evening will end with Eric Whitacre’s setting of the beloved children’s classic, “Good Night Moon.”