Stillman’s Department of Fine Arts will host a faculty and guest artists recital on Monday, September 26 at 7 p.m. in the Warner Presentation Room of the Wynn Fine Arts Center. The evening is themed: Music to Quiet the Restless Mind.

“The songs on this program all deal with letting go of thoughts that cause restlessness and of loved ones,” said Dr. Luvada A. Harrison, Associate Professor of Music and Chair of the Fine Arts Department.

The recital is a collaborative program that will feature Stillman faculty along with faculty members and doctoral candidates from the Moody School of Music of the University of Alabama. Three of who are also members of the Tuscaloosa Symphony.

The artists for the evening are Lana Avis, violist; John McGuire, French horn; Osiris Molina, clarinetist; Demondrae Thurman, euphonium; Luvada A. Harrison, soprano and Hyesook Jung, piano

The program will feature chamber music for voice and instruments composed by Schubert, Brahms and Rorem. It will also feature the premiere of Villa Lobos: Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5 arranged for voice and euphonium.

Lana Avis is a freelance violist and teacher in the metropolitan Atlanta area. She taught public school orchestra for four years and has maintained a private teaching studio, performed in the Macon Symphony Orchestra and the Columbus Symphony Orchestra of Columbus, Ga., over the past thirteen years. In addition, Avis is a doctoral candidate in viola performance at The University of Alabama. She has been named a 2011-2012 University of Alabama Graduate Council Research and Creative Activity Fellow for her work with the influences of Occupational Socialization and Occupational Identity on the role of Artist-Teacher.

Dr. Osiris J. Molina is Assistant Professor of Clarinet at The University of Alabama. A native of Elizabeth, NJ, he has considerable experience as a soloist, chamber and orchestral musician. Molina’s recent professional accomplishments have taken him overseas and across the country. In 2009, he performed a concerto with the Beijing Wind Orchestra at the 2009 Beijing International Band Festival in China and served as a judge for the festival woodwind competition. He holds degrees from Michigan State University (DMA), Yale School of Music (MM), and Rutgers University (BM), where he studied with Dr. Elsa Ludewig-Verdehr, David Shifrin, Charles Neidich, Ayoko Ashima and Dr. William Berz. He teaches applied clarinet, chamber music and clarinet methods in the Music Education curriculum.

Dr. Demondrae Thurman is Associate Professor of Euphonium and Tuba and Chair of the Brass Area at The University of Alabama.  His students have been extremely successful having won many of the prestigious international competitions for low brass.  He is also teaches at the annual Miraphone Academy. Thurman is considered one of the stars of the formidable generation of brass soloists. His euphonium playing has been described as “awe inspiring”, and he is touted as “an amazing musician”.  Over the last ten years, Thurman has been an invited guest artist/clinician at many of the world’s prestigious euphonium festivals including the International Tuba/Euphonium Conference, U.S. Army Band Tuba and Euphonium Conference and the Leonard Falcone Competition.  

Dr. Hye-Sook Jung began her career at Stillman College after serving as a music instructor for the Indian Springs School in Birmingham, Alabama. Jung is a gifted pianist, instructor and scholar. In addition to teaching Piano and Music Theory, she serves as accompanist for student and faculty recitals. Jung also maintains a private studio of pre-college students and serves as a president of West Alabama Music Teachers Association. She received her Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance from HanYang University and her Master of Music Degree in Piano Accompanying from Sungshin University in South Korea.

Dr. Luvada A. Harrison is Associate Professor of Music at Stillman College. She is a professional singer, adjudicator, arts educator and scholar.  She has performed with regional opera companies and symphony orchestras throughout the United States and Europe in such venues as Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Carnegie Hall and the Châtelet Theatre in Paris.  Her repertoire encompasses opera, oratorio, symphonic literature and musical theatre. Ms. Harrison received national exposure when she was seen as Aida in the “Drama Queens” episode on HBO’s hit series Sex and the City. She has served as an adjudicator for the Negro Spiritual Foundations Grady/Rayam Vocal Competition as well as MTNA and AVA.  As an arts educator, she has performed with the New York City Opera and the Metropolitan Opera Guild.

For more information about the guest artists performance, please contact the Office of Marketing and Public Relations at (205) 247-8018.

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