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The Music
Musical performances will include professionals who have appeared on stages from Broadway to Nashville and in opera houses around the world. Those scheduled to appear include the following:
Nashville singer-songwriter Kaci Bolls (’94) lists a range of influences from Karen Carpenter, Shawn Colvin, Patsy Cline, Amy Grant and Bonnie Raitt to Bob Dylan and Emmylou Harris. She was a first runner-up in the 2000 John Lennon Songwriting contest in two categories — folk and children’s. She is currently in the studio working on artist demos with producer/songwriter Odie Blackmon.
Internationally known opera singer Stephen Mark Brown (’87) has sung with Luciano Pavarotti and at La Scala. He has won the Opera Company of Philadelphia/Luciano Pavarotti Competition and the Altamura/Enrico Caruso International Voice Competition. He has performed with the opera companies of Nice and Lyon, L’Opéra de Montréal, Spain’s Opera Bilbao, New York City Opera, and Nashville Opera.
The Harding University Jazz Band is under the direction of J. Warren Casey (’76), professor of music and faculty member since 1982. The ensemble has been an integral part of the Department of Music since the early 1960s. In addition to campus performances each semester, the ensemble makes short trips during the school year to surrounding locations in Arkansas and is active in area jazz festivals. The group performs blues, swing, latin and contemporary styles.
Joel Cox of Searcy, a senior English major at Harding, has spent five years in Chorus and three in Good News Singers. He has appeared as Mayor Shinn in “The Music Man” and as part of the ensemble for “Kismet” and “Beauty and the Beast.” He will graduate in May.
Nashville, Tenn., resident Mark Evans (’83) traveled around the world singing aboard luxury cruise liners and with Broadway touring companies. He also served as back-up vocalist for Barbara Mandrell. Evans then launched a gift shop in Nashville, Trumps Studio, where he continues to work.
India Medders Galyean (’90) has performed in many well-known New York venues, including the Iridium, Irving Plaza, Tavern on the Green and the Russian Tea Room. She received the prestigious Bistro Award for Outstanding Vocalist recognizing her work on New York’s cabaret circuit. Galyean now lives in Resaca, Ga., and continues her career singing with several groups based in Atlanta and Chattanooga.
Abby C. Smith (’03) performed several roles while at Harding, including Aldonza in “Man of La Mancha” and Queen Aggravaine in “Once Upon a Mattress.” She is currently working toward a master of music in musical theater at Oklahoma City University, where she was seen most recently as Aunt March in “Little Women.” Upon graduation in May, she plans to pursue a career in musical theater in New York City.
W. Stephen Smith (’72) joined the voice faculty at The Juilliard School in 1998 after serving eight years on voice faculty at Moores School of Music at University of Houston. Since 1996 he has held a position on voice faculty of Aspen Music Festival and School, where he was honored in 2001 as a “New Horizons” faculty member. Additionally, Smith was on the staff of Houston Grand Opera as voice instructor for Houston Opera Studio from 1990 to 2003.
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