Strobilus Music Series Presents Tenor & Bass Vocal Recital

The second performance in the fall season of the Strobilus Music Series will take place at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 18 at Chapel in the Pines Presbyterian Church. Tenor Mitchener Howell and bass Jay Pierson will sing The Highs and the Lows, a joint vocal recital featuring art songs, spirituals, opera arias, and duets. Catherine Hamner will accompany on piano.

Howell is a native of Durham and a graduate of Yale University and the University of Denver. Recently he has made appearances with Meredith College and the Durham Savoyards. Pierson received his Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts from the Eastman School of Music, has served on the faculty at Bucknell University and East Carolina University, and is currently on the faculty at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Pierson explained the program, saying, “The Highs and the Lows covers a broad range of styles, from the lyric melodies of John Dowland to the highly descriptive songs and duets of Schubert and Schumann, the beauty and color of French melodie, and the drama and wit of American and African-American art songs. This program celebrates music and poetry from many centuries, utilizing many octaves!”

Series coordinator Nathan Kotecki added, “Both Jay and Mitchener have sung multiple times for worship at Chapel in the Pines, and each time without fail, congregants have expressed the desire to hear more of them. We’re thrilled to have them for this performance that will give these two singers the opportunity to present the full spectrum of their talents.”

All Strobilus performances are open to the public and free with a suggested donation. Free childcare will be provided. More information about this performance and the rest of the Strobilus fall season can be found at the series website, www.strobilusmusic.tumblr.com

Pastor Mindy Douglas said, “We were blown away by the attendance and the response to the first Strobilus performance (the bluegrass ensemble Jason and the G-Runs) in September. It’s so exciting to watch Chapel in the Pines develop as a music performance space.”

Located at 314 Great Ridge Parkway in southern Chapel Hill, The Chapel in the Pines Presbyterian Church welcomes everyone, and the facility is fully ADA accessible.

The music series takes its name from the botanical term for the pinecone, which derives from the Greek strobilos, meaning whirlwind.

For more information, contact: Nathan Kotecki, Strobilus Series Coordinator, strobilusmusic@gmail.com, (917) 414-2239 or visit www.strobilusmusic.tumblr.com.

Category: Press Releases