Debut recitals of UNT vocal faculty display Grammy-winning and internationally renowned talent

Thursday, February 19, 2015 - 21:16
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What: Two critically acclaimed vocalists at the University of North Texas College of Music are among the faculty who will perform in upcoming recitals.

When/Where: Soprano Molly Fillmore performs March 7 (Saturday). Tenor William Joyner performs March 28 (Saturday).

Both recitals will be held at 3:30 p.m. in Voertman Hall, which is located inside the Music Building at 415 Ave C. in Denton.

Cost: Free.

DENTON (UNT), Texas -- In their debut recitals at the University of North Texas, Grammy-winning soprano Molly Fillmore and internationally acclaimed tenor William Joyner are among the faculty with upcoming performances that will display the talent and excellence within the UNT College of Music.

Fillmore's recital will take place March 7 (Saturday), and Joyner's performance will take place March 28 (Saturday). Both recitals will be held at 3:30 p.m. in Voertman Hall, which is located inside the Music Building at 415 Ave C. in Denton. Elvia Puccinelli, an accomplished professor of collaborative piano at UNT, will play for both Fillmore and Joyner's recitals. Admission is free.

Fillmore, a first-year professor of voice at UNT, made her Metropolitan Opera debut in 2011 as Helmwige in Der Ring der Nibelungen. Her performance earned her a Grammy in 2013 for Best Opera Recording. In 2011, she returned to the Met to perform in Satyagraha, which featured Richard Croft, who is also a UNT voice professor.

Fillmore will sing mostly 20th century German repertoire for her debut recital at UNT. She said that she is particularly drawn to modern music and likes to perform songs that audiences don't get to hear very often.

"I try to pick songs that will be entertaining, informative and unusual – something that isn't sung all the time," said Fillmore. "I always have the audience in mind when choosing repertoire."

Joyner, a visiting assistant professor of voice, has performed 55 different roles, singing in 12 countries on three continents. He has worked with some of the world's foremost opera theaters and conductors.

Joyner worked with Puccinelli to select the pieces for his recital. He gave a specific reason behind each of his choices.

For example, two of the pieces to be performed are in English. Joyner feels that English-language repertoire doesn't get enough credit for its "high artistic quality" and its ability to help "students learn to communicate using their voices by removing the impediment of singing in a language not their own."

Both Fillmore and Joyner will also be in the season-ending Symphony Orchestra and Grand Chorus concert performing Beethoven's Ninth Symphony with fellow vocal professors Carol Wilson and Stephen Morscheck at 8 p.m. April 29 (Wednesday) in the Murchison Performing Arts Center. For ticket information, visit www.thempac.com.

About the UNT College of Music

The UNT College of Music is one of the largest and most respected comprehensive music schools in the country. More than 1,600 music students attend UNT each year, participating in more than 50 widely varied ensembles and pursuing specialized studies in performance, composition, music education or music scholarship. UNT faculty members and students have made appearances on the world's finest stages and have produced numerous recordings, many receiving Grammy awards and nominations. Distinguished UNT alumni can be found around the globe, in top music ensembles, opera companies, universities and schools.

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