Date of Defense

4-3-2015

Date of Graduation

5-2015

Department

Music

First Advisor

Karen Kness

Second Advisor

Carl Ratner

Third Advisor

David Little

Abstract

The purpose of this performance and honors thesis presentation is to showcase my personal growth as an artist and singer throughout my undergraduate career at Western Michigan University as well as present to an audience of varying levels of musical knowledge, a cumulative collection of works from the mezzo-soprano opera repertoire and art song from the Baroque to Modern era. Works from the following composers were prepared and performed in this concert: Antonio Vivaldi, Franz Schubert, Johannes Brahms, Felix Mendelssohn, Gioachino Rossini, Leslie Adams, Maurice Ravel, Richard Strauss, and the comedy duo Flanders and Swann. The pieces were chosen for a variety of reasons including there personal significance to myself as a performer, their significance at the time they were composed and their importance in the vocal repertoire today, and purely for entertainment value and audience enjoyment. Some of the works were pulled from previous semesters of study, though the majority of the repertoire chosen was chosen, learned, and performed in the Spring 2015 semester. The preparation for this recital required one voice lesson weekly paired with a half hour rehearsal with my pianist, Gunta Laukmane, in addition to several hours of practice weekly. I also entered in competitions such as the Nation Association for Teachers of Singing regional competition in Indiana and the Kalamazoo Bach Festival Young Vocalist Competition at Kalamazoo College to gain experience and constructive comments performing my more difficult repertoire for a small audience and panel of judges. The final steps to the completion of my recital included a hearing in front of a panel of my choice of music faculty to approve my level of preparation and repertoire choices, research and writing of program notes for each song and composer, and a dress rehearsal with my pianist and teacher to rehearse my recital in its entirety. Overall, the recital and honors thesis achieved its purpose of educating and entertaining an audience while showcasing my progress and achievements as a performer of song.

Access Setting

Honors Thesis-Open Access

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