Esteemed Soprano Performs in St. Louis

PRLog (Press Release) - Nov. 1, 2011 - ST. LOUIS – A versatile interpreter of art songs, mezzo-soprano Kathleen Shimeta celebrates musical and theatrical excellence in “Life! Love! Song! A Visit with Gena Branscombe.” This one-woman show is a pre-conference event for University of Missouri–St. Louis’ Women in the Arts Conference. The concert will take place at 7 pm, Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011, at the Unity Lutheran Church in Bel-Nor, Mo. Shimeta’s lively and elegant portrayal of American composer Gena Branscombe has been enthusiastically received from coast-to-coast.

For several years, Shimeta devoted time to discovering the rich repertoire of Branscombe (1881–1977). Shimeta’s one-woman show, “Life! Love! Song! A Visit with Gena Branscombe,” showcases 15 of Branscombe’s elegantly lyric songs with vivid first-person dialogue. The show gives tribute to a woman ahead of her time, a pioneer for today’s women composers.

Shimeta, a strong advocate for contemporary American composers, made her New York City debut when she performed the premiere of Michael Linton’s “Cantata #2” at Merkin Hall. She also premiered Linton’s “Canti Catulli” in Seattle at a national convention of the National Association of Teachers of Singing and was guest soloist performing George Rochberg’s “Songs in Praise of Krishna” at Rochberg festival.

A popular oratorio soloist, Shimeta’s many appearances with orchestra include performances in Verdi’s “Requiem,” Brahms’ “Alto Rhapsody,” Handel’s “Messiah” and “Judas Maccabaeus,” Respighi’s “Laud to the Nativity,” Bach’s “St. John Passion,” Rossini’s “Petite Messe Solennelle,” Mozart’s “Requiem,” Vivaldi’s “Gloria,” Haydn’s “Lord Nelson Mass,” Purcell’s “Ode on St. Cecilia’s Day,” Honegger’s “King David” and numerous other works.

The concert serves as a pre-conference event to the Women in the Arts Conference that will take place Nov. 10–12, 2011, at the University of Missouri–St. Louis. Barbara Harbach, professor of music at UMSL and founder of Women in the Arts, said the conference is the capstone event of celebrating women creators present and past, and a partnership of institutions and arts organizations from across the St. Louis metropolitan area.

Conference presentations will relate to all fields of women creators in the arts, Harbach said.

“There will be music, literature, drama, dance, performance art and visual art including papers, lectures, recitals, clinics, demonstrations, panels, performances and workshops,” she said. “Presenters are faculty members (full time, adjunct and retired), independent scholars, performers, artists, writers and graduate students.”

For more information about any of the pre-conference events or the conference itself, call Barbara Harbach at (314) 516-4990 or visit http://umslwia.com. To register to attend the Conference from Nov. 10-12, call Raina Traore-Gress at (314) 516-5974. Registration also is available online at http://umslwia.com.

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About UMSL CE:
The UMSL Division of Continuing Education provides programs that fulfill degree completion, professional development and personal enrichment goals for the lifelong learner. For more information, please visit http://umslce.org.