Performing Arts Series Continues with The Omni Trio
The Lee University School of Music will present The Omni Trio, with Lee’s own Dr. Loralee Songer, as the next guest in the Performing Arts Series. The concert will take place on Thursday, March 20, at 7:30 p.m. in the Squires Recital Hall, located in the Humanities Center.
The Omni Trio will perform works such as “Tell Me the Truth About Love,” “Johnny,” and “Funeral Blues” by English composer Benjamin Britten, and “Le Present,” “Chanson,” and “Hier” by French composer and pianist Francis Poulenc.
The Omni Trio consists of soprano Danya Katok, pianist Dylan Perez, and Songer, mezzo-soprano.
Katok is a vibrant performer whose “crystalline soprano” (Boston Globe) and “appealing” stage presence (The New York Times) have led her to burst onto the contemporary classical music scene. In April 2011, she made her New York City Opera debut at Lincoln Center as Max in Oliver Knussen’s “Where the Wild Things Are.”
Katok’s other operatic roles include Commère in Virgil Thomson’s “Four Saints in Three Acts” with Mark Morris Dance Group, Soprano in the world premiere of Christian McLeer’s short opera “Sonata” at Carnegie Hall, Judy in Lee Hoiby’s “This is the Rill Speaking” with Chelsea Opera, and as a soloist with the Boston Pops in “An Evening of Cole Porter.” She is currently a doctoral student at The CUNY Graduate Center and on the voice faculty at Brooklyn College. Her past teachers include Rita Shane and Ah Hong.
Perez is a second year master’s student studying collaborative piano with Martin Katz at the University of Michigan’s School of Music, Theatre and Dance. He made his Carnegie Hall debut in January 2013 as a participant in the master class series “The Song Continues” with Marilyn Horne, Jessye Norman, and Dalton Baldwin. Perez was an opera coach and pianist for the Franco-American Vocal Academy in Perigueux, France this past summer.
Perez has studied under Louis Nagel, Katherine Collier, Christopher Harding, and Joan Conway. He participated in the Aspen Music Festival during the summers of 2010 and 2011, where he studied with Ann Schein. He was also the recipient of the Martin Katz Fellowship at SongFest 2012.
Songer is an assistant professor of music at Lee where she teaches applied voice and conducting, along with directing the women’s ensemble Ladies of Lee. She is an active recitalist, opera and oratorio performer, conductor, and music scholar.
Among the opera roles Songer has performed are Julius Caesar in “Giulio Cesare”, Belinda in “Dido and Aeneas,” and Suzuki in “Madama Butterfly.” Songer also created the role of the French mother in the world premiere of Jody Nagel’s “53rd Street.”
Songer has worked with some of the most prolific coaches and composers, including Jake Heggie, John Musto, Libby Larsen, William Bolcom, Margo Garrett, Graham Johnson, and Martin Katz.
The pieces by Britten and Poulenc will be featured in honor of what would have been the centennial anniversary of Britten’s birth, as well as the 50th anniversary of Poulenc’s death.
This event is free of charge and open to the public, but tickets are required, and will be available beginning Monday, March 17. To reserve a ticket, contact the Lee University Box Office, Monday-Friday, 3-6 p.m. at (423) 614-8343.
For more information about the Performing Arts Series or other music events, please call the School of Music at (423) 614-8240.
