Southwest Baptist University News Release
Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications
BOLIVAR, Mo. – The Department of Music at Southwest Baptist University will present Felix Mendelssohn’s Symphony no. 2 in B flat major, “Hymn of Praise,” as the annual Masterworks Concert on May 7 at 7:30 p.m. in the Pike Auditorium. The concert is free and open to the general public.
Under the direction of Dr. James R. Tarrant, director of choral studies, the annual Masterworks concert features the combined efforts of the Chorale and Concert Choir of SBU and local singers through the Bolivar Community Chorus. The orchestra is staffed by the Chamber Orchestra and Symphonic Winds of SBU and players from the Springfield Symphony Orchestra.
“This work is truly a masterwork, both in the size of the forces and the importance of the work itself,” commented Tarrant. “We are especially pleased to feature our three voice faculty as soloists.”
Those faculty are Dr. Kathy Brown, soprano; Dr. Elizabeth Maben, mezzo soprano; and Dr. Andrew Campbell, tenor.
Dr. Brown received her B.M. and B.M.E. degrees from Baylor University. She received her M.M. from Indiana University and was awarded the Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Dr. Brown held the position in Chicago of soprano soloist for the seasonal concert series at the Chicago Temple (First Methodist Church), as well as appeared as soloist in various Chicago area concerts and musical productions, including the lead in Kiss Me Kate. Her teaching positions in Illinois included Deerfield public schools, Park Forest Conservatory, and St. Xavier College. Dr. Brown has studied with Caterina Micieli, Elizabeth Mannion, Martha Lipton, Anna Boynton, Martha Longmire, and Ted Harris. She has been a clinician for Missouri public schools and the Missouri Baptist Convention. Her voice students have won competitions sponsored by the National Association of Teachers of Singing and the Missouri Music Teachers Association. Dr. Brown is Professor of Music and coordinator of vocal studies at Southwest Baptist University.
Dr. Elizabeth Maben is a native of Trevose, Pennsylvania, and completed her Bachelor of Music degree at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. Her graduate studies were completed at Arizona State University, where she received her Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance & Pedagogy as well as a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Performance. She was involved in the academic community of the Phoenix-metro area during her graduate work, teaching as a member of the Grand Canyon University faculty and at several other schools local to that area. She also had the opportunity to participate with some of Arizona’s finest performance groups, including the Phoenix Bach Choir, Cantemus, and the Phoenix Symphony Chorus. Concert roles to her credit include solos in Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, Magnificat, and portions of the B Minor Mass, Joseph Hayden’s Paukenmesse, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Mozart’s Coronation Mass, a premier performance of Michael Haydn’s Missa Sancti Josephi, and several performances of Mozart’s Requiem. Her operatic roles include Dorabella in Così fan tutte, Amastre in Xerxes, Zita in Gianni Schicchi, and Cousin Hebe in H.M.S. Pinafore. Dr. Maben currently holds the position of Assistant Professor of Music at SBU, teaching voice, Vocal Pedagogy, Introduction to Music, and directing Opera-Theatre scenes.
Dr. Andrew Campbell currently serves as Assistant Professor of Music at Southwest Baptist University where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Music Industry with a concentration in Music Business in 1999. Campbell finished his Master of Music degree with a concentration in Choral Conducting from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2002. While in the master’s program he studied voice with David Robinson and conducting with Michael Cox, David Keith, and Joseph King. Campbell completed the Doctor of Musical Arts degree with a Choral Conducting concentration from Southwestern in December of 2007. Campbell has performed as tenor soloist in performances of Bach’s Magnificat, Mass No. 4 in G Major, Cantata No. 179, Dubois’ Seven Last Words of Christ, Mozart’s Requiem, and numerous performances of Handel’s Messiah. He currently directs the SBU Concert Choir and the Bolivar Community Chorus.
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Southwest Baptist University is a leader among private universities in truly integrating Christ-centered academic pursuits with comprehensive professional programs at an affordable price. Since 1878, the faculty and staff have created a caring, academic community to prepare students to be servant leaders in a global society. The University has been named one of America’s Best Christian Colleges® for 13 consecutive years, one of America’s 100 Best College Buys® for 14 consecutive years, and it has been named among institutions with America’s Best College Scholarships ® for the past three years by Institutional Research and Evaluation, Inc. For more information, visit www.SBUniv.edu.
SBU’s Office of Marketing & Communications is available to news media 24/7 at 417-399-7918.
