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February 25, 2008
不良研究所 Opera concert Feb. 29 features visiting artists in all-American music program
Music lovers will have the opportunity to enjoy visiting artists (and newlyweds) Betsy Uschkrat, a former Miss Indiana, and Tyler Smith in an opera concert Friday, Feb. 29 at 7:30 p.m. in the Emy-Lou Biedenharn Recital Hall.
The program, a fundraiser for the opera department, will focus on an all-American music program. The opening concert will include features from Aaron Copland鈥檚 鈥淥ld American Songs,鈥 Robert Ward鈥檚 鈥淭he Crucible,鈥 and excerpts from Act I scenes II and V of 鈥淪usannah鈥 by Carlisle Floyd.
After intermission, audience members will enjoy features from Leonard Bernstein鈥檚 鈥淐andide,鈥 Douglas Moore鈥檚 鈥淭he Ballad of Baby Doe,鈥 Lee Hoiby鈥檚 鈥淭he Tempest,鈥 Ned Rorem鈥檚 鈥淥ur Town,鈥 Samuel Barber鈥檚 鈥淭he Crucifixion,鈥 and Carlisle Floyd鈥檚 鈥淥f Mice and Men.鈥
不良研究所 students, faculty and staff may attend free of charge with I.D. Admission is $7 for the general public. Call (318) 342-1414 for tickets.
More about Uschkrat and Smith:
Uschkrat, soprano, is completing a master鈥檚 degree at the Jacobs School of Music under the tutelage of Costanza Cuccaro. While pursuing her master鈥檚, she has performed the title role in Carlisle Floyd鈥檚 鈥淪usannah鈥 and the roles of Juliette in 鈥淩om茅o et Juliette,鈥 鈥淢anon,鈥 the title character of Massenet鈥檚 opera; and Adina in 鈥淟鈥檈lisir d鈥檃more.鈥 In May 2007, Uschkrat represented the Jacobs School of Music in recital at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
In January 2008, Uschkrat was awarded top honors at the district Metropolitan National Council Auditions. She received a bachelor鈥檚 degree of music with membership in the Honors College from the University of Houston鈥檚 Moores School of Music in 2005.
Recently, she represented her state as Miss Indiana 2006 in the Miss America Pageant. She is also a former Miss Houston. She was a finalist for the 鈥淨uality of Life Community Service Award鈥 commendation for her work in creating and hosting over 17 鈥淗eart and Soul Benefit Concerts,鈥 which have raised over $100,000 for local food banks in America.
American tenor Smith has appeared in numerous operatic and concert performances throughout the United States, Europe, and South America.
Most recently, Smith performed the role of Don Jose in 鈥淐armen鈥 for the Idaho Falls Opera Company and Rodrigo for Des Moines Metropolitan Opera鈥檚 production of 鈥淥tello鈥 while covering the title role.
Other operatic roles have included Rodolfo in 鈥淟a Boh猫me,鈥 Boris in 鈥淜atya Kabanova,鈥 Anatol in 鈥淰anessa,鈥 Pinkerton in 鈥淢adame Butterfly,鈥 title roles in Offenbach鈥檚 鈥淭ales of Hoffmann鈥 and 鈥淐hristopher Columbus,鈥 Max in 鈥淒er Freisch眉tz,鈥 Giles Corey for Mobile Opera鈥檚 production of 鈥淭he Crucible,鈥 Florestan in 鈥淔idelio,鈥 and Belfiore in Argento鈥檚 鈥淐asanovas Homecoming,鈥 which was recently released on the Newport Classics label.
In 2001, he made his Houston Grand Opera Debut as Carlson in Carlisle Floyd鈥檚 鈥淥f Mice and Men,鈥 which has been released on the Albany label. As a soloist, his concert work includes Beethoven鈥檚 鈥淪ymphony No. 9,鈥 Verdi鈥檚 鈥淩equiem,鈥 Mozart鈥檚 鈥淩equiem,鈥 Saint-Sa毛ns鈥 鈥淐hristmas Oratorio,鈥 Haydn鈥檚 鈥淐reation,鈥 and Dvorak鈥檚 鈥淪tabat Mater.鈥
Upcoming appearances include Gustav III in 鈥淯n Ballo In Maschera鈥 for Des Moines Metropolitan Opera and recitals throughout Louisiana. He also teaches at Loyola University in New Orleans.
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