November 11th - 12th: Coker College to hold Centennial Celebration to honor Benjamin Britten

The Coker College Music Program will present a two-day event Nov. 11-12 to honor the Centennial Celebration of composer Benjamin Britten. Britten, an English composer born in 1913, spent several years writing and performing in America. Coker will join hundreds of colleges and universities around the country in celebrating the 100th anniversary of his birth.

Included in the two-day event will be lectures, recitals and concerts from Coker faculty, students and guest artists who will perform several of Britten’s works. The works that will be performed include Rejoice in the Lamb, The Seven Sonnets of Michelangelo and Charm of Lullabies, as well as several of his folksong arrangements.

“We are excited to make our contribution to the Benjamin Britten movement of schools hosting centennial events,” said Serena Hill-LaRoche, assistant professor of music and coordinator of vocal studies. “Our goal is to immerse the campus and community in the colorful and picturesque world of Britten through performances, lectures and other educational opportunities. We feel we have a strong lineup that will capture the essence of this famous composer.”

The centennial celebration will include six events: two on Monday, Nov. 11 and four on Tuesday, Nov. 12.

At 5:30 p.m. on Monday, the celebration begins with an opening lecture and reception in Coker’s Black Box Theater, led by guest speaker Sarah Williams (University of South Carolina). Following that, at 7:30 p.m., will be a guest artists recital in Watson Theater put on by Ron Brendel (Lee University) and Catherine Garner (East Carolina University).

Tuesday’s events kick off at 10 a.m. in the Recital Hall with a master class from guest clinician Jami Rhodes (East Carolina University). A short lecture on Britten stage works, with performances by Coker students, will follow at 2 p.m. in the Recital Hall. At 5 p.m., a faculty/guest artist recital from Hill-LaRoche, Rhodes and Garner will take place in Watson Theater.

The two-day event concludes on Tuesday with a Britten gala concert featuring the Coker Singers, Coker faculty and guest artists. This is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Hartsville.

Britten was an English composer who became popular during the 1940s. His career as a composer was matched by his ability as a performer. He was both a refined pianist and a spontaneous and fluent conductor.

Some of Britten’s famous works include The Rape of Lucretia (1946), Noye’s Fludde (1957), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1960) and Death in Venice (1971-73).

For more information on the two-day event, contact Hill-LaRoche at 843-383-8061 or shill@coker.edu.

October 8th: 'A Celebration of Women' Recital at Coker College

Coker College will present “A Celebration of Women” recital at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8 in the Watson Theater of the Elizabeth Boatwright Coker Performing Arts Center. Admission is free and open to the public.

Performers include soprano Serena Hill-LaRoche, assistant professor of music and coorditor of vocal studies at Coker, soprano Tina Milhorn Stallard, associate professor of voice at the University of South Carolina, and pianist Lynn Kompass, associate professor at the University of South Carolina.

“‘A Celebration of Women’ is a collaborative recital that was conceived as part of the Opera-tunity Foundation’s Season of Women,” said Hill-LaRoche. “There is such a wealth of music written by women.  It is still a novelty to see these composers highlighted in standard vocal literature. I feel honored to perform these musical treasures with some of my closest and most talented female colleagues here in South Carolina. This is a concert not to be missed!”

Hill-LaRoche, Stallard and Kompass will perform pieces by composers such as Pauline Viardot-García, Lili Boulanger, Libby Larsen, André Previn, Susan Botti, Abbie Betinis and Lori Laitman.

Hill-LaRoche has performed concerts with the South Carolina Philharmonic, Lexington Philharmonic and Firenze Lirica. She has sung major roles with Opera at USC, Opera in the Ozarks, Studio Lirico, Greenville Light Opera and Central Florida Lyric Opera. She was a 2003 finalist in the Southeast Regional Metropolitan Opera Auditions, a 2003 Bizet Award winner for the Orpheus National Vocal Competition, a 2006 artist of the year with FBN Productions, Inc. and a 2008 and 2012 regional finalist for NATS Artist Award. Hill-LaRoche has been a member of the Coker faculty since 2004. She earned her degrees from the University of South Carolina and the University of North Alabama.

Stallard has performed with the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra, Johnson City Symphony and Louisville Orchestra. Stallard has sung major roles with Opera Omaha, Central City Opera, Opera Theatre of Lucca, Cincinnati Opera and Kentucky Opera. Stallard was the Annemarie Gertz Prize winner in the national finals of The Artist Award Auditions of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, district winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, a semifinalist of the Eleanor McCollum Competition and winner of the Grace Moore Vocal Competition. She holds degrees from the University of Cincinnati, the University of Kentucky and Belmont University.

Kompass has performed in various venues such as Weill Recital Hall, Nicholas Roerich Museum, Strings in the Mountain Festival, Harold Washington Library and North Carolina Museum of Art. Kompass has worked as a coach at Festival de Musique de St-Barthelemy, Chicago Opera theater, Aspen Opera Theater and Opera Brasil. Kompass holds graduate degrees from the University of Michigan.

For more information on the event, contact Hill-LaRoche at 843-383-8061 or shill@coker.edu.

December 3rd:Voice and Piano Students to Present Fall Recital

Voice and piano students at Coker College will perform a recital, which is free and open to the public, at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 3 in the Hannah Lide Coker Recital Hall on the campus of Coker College.

“The fall student recital includes samples of repertoire from students taking applied voice or piano lessons with Dr. Jun Matsuo, Eric Kesler or myself,” said Assistant Professor of Music Serena LaRoach-Hill.  “All of the students perform in the recital whether they are music majors, minors or even non-majors.  For many of the beginners and non-majors, this is one of the few opportunities they have to perform solo pieces in public.”

"The student recital is one of my favorite performances.” said senior music major, Latavia Smith.  “It is an opportunity for me to showcase some of what I've been preparing every semester."

In addition to showcasing the work of the College’s traditional music students, the recital provides an opportunity for local high school students enrolled in the PULSE (Partners for Unparalleled Local Scholastic Excellence) initiative to perform for the public.

A key component of the partnership is the Accelerated Learning Opportunities initiative (ALO) that expands curriculum opportunities through collaborative teaching programs with the South Carolina Governor’s School of Science and Mathematics and Coker.  ALO is available to eligible students at Hartsville and Mayo High schools who live in Hartsville.

Now in its second year, PULSE is administered by the TEACH Foundation through a five-year $5 million grant from the Sonoco Foundation. The collaborative program involves the Darlington County School District, South Carolina Governor's School for Science and Mathematics, Coker College and Sonoco.

This semester’s ALO students are enrolled in classes in dance, piano and vocal studies.

"I am really nervous but extremely excited about the recital,” said Nicole Hyaman, now in her second year as an ALO student. “Compared to where I started, I feel like I've grown exponentially.”

The next public recital for voice and piano will be held at 3 p.m. May 5 in the Coker College Drawing Room.

For more information about Coker College’s programs in performing and visual arts, call Wesley Atkinson at 843-383-8050.  For information about PULSE and ALO, visit www.teachfoundation.orgor call 843-917-0026. 

September 10th: An American Potpourri at Coker College

Coker College will present “An American Potpourri” at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 10

 in the Watson Theater of the Elizabeth Boatwright Coker Performing Arts Center.

The piano, flute and vocal trio includes Coker College Assistant Professor Serena Hill-LaRoche soprano, Tabatha Easley, flute and Catherine H. Garner, piano. Featuring primarily 20th century American composers, the program includes widely varying works.

“From ‘The Mad Maid’s Song,’ by David Diamond, whom the New York Times described as ‘atonal’ and ‘prickly’ to ‘A Girl’s Song to Her Mother,’ a lyrical lullaby by Hillary Tann, the pieces selected for the program exemplify meticulous craftsmanship,” said Hill-LaRoche. “With this eclectic program, there will truly be something for everyone!”

Earlier this year, Hill-LaRoche won the National Association of Teachers of Singing Artist Award (NATSAA) for the state of South Carolina. An active performer, she has recently been featured in works such as Handel’s "Messiah," Haydn’s "Creation" and "Seasons," Brahm’s "Requiem," Vaughan William’s "Dona Nobis Pacem" and Handel’s "Samson." She has performed with the South Carolina Philharmonic and Firenze Lirica. Hill-LaRoche’s recital engagements include performances in both Italy and Spain.  She has sung with Opera at University of South Carolina, Opera in the Ozarks, Studio Lirico, Greenville Light Opera, Central Florida Lyric Opera and Piccolo Players. Hill-LaRoche was a 2003 finalist in the Southeast Regional Metropolitan Opera Auditions and most recently, a 2008 National Association of Teachers of Singing Artist Award Regional Finalist and the 2006 Artist of the Year with FBN Productions, Inc. In 2003, she was the Bizet Award winner for the Orpheus National Young Artist Vocal Competition and a Palmetto Opera Competition Finalist in 2005.

Garner has performed as a soloist with the Louisiana State University Orchestra, the Monroe Symphony Orchestra, the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra, the Tallahassee Ballet and the Big Bend Orchestra.  She has performed as a collaborative pianist with such groups as The New Music Collective in Charleston, S.C., and with various soloists around the southeast including Aaron Goldman, assistant principal flutist of the National Symphony. Garner is also the founder and director of Music on a Women’s Initiative Music Series, a monthly concert series featuring compositions by women, performed in high traffic areas around East Carolina University.

Tabatha Easley, assistant professor of flute at Virginia Commonwealth University. Easley has served as a principal flutist of the Charlottesville Symphony, a member of the Fairbanks Symphony, and a member of the Arctic Chamber Orchestras in Alaska. Active in the National Flute Association, Easley is the competition coordinator for the College Flute Choir Competition. Easley is on the board for the Flute Society of Washington where she presents and performs annually at the MidAtlantic Flute Conference and coordinates the Adult Amateur Competition. Easley holds a Doctor of Music Arts from the Eastman School of Music, a Master of Arts from California State University at Long Beach, and a bachelor’s from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. 

Coker College's Hill-LaRoche Honored with Statewide Singing Artist Award

This month Coker College Assistant Professor of Music Serena Hill-LaRoche won the National Association of Teachers of Singing Artist Award (NATSAA) for the state of South Carolina. 

She will travel to the University of Maryland next month to participate in the organization’s Mid-Atlantic Region competition, which will include a representative each from Maryland/Washington, D.C., Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina.

“Winning the NATSAA for South Carolina is an impressive accomplishment not only for Dr. Hill-LaRoche but for the music program and the entire College,” said Associate Professor of Music Will Carswell, who directs choral and vocal studies at Coker.  “For majors and non-majors alike, students who train with her will learn both by her excellent instruction as well as her fine example.  She is a gem in her field and a wonderful colleague as well.”

“I am honored to represent South Carolina in the Mid-Atlantic competition,” said Hill-LaRoche.  “But more than that, I am deeply grateful for leadership of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, which recognizes a fundamental truth that collegial competition strengthens both scholarship and performance in vocal music.  Without a doubt, these experiences help us hone our skills and apply the knowledge gained both to our work in the classroom and to our performances on stage.”

An active performer, Hill-LaRoche has recently been featured in works such as Handel’s “Messiah,” Haydn’s “Creation” and “Seasons,” Brahm’s “Requiem,” Vaughan William’s “Dona Nobis Pacem” and Handel’s “Samson.” She has performed with the South Carolina Philharmonic and Firenze Lirica. Hill-LaRoche’s international recital engagements include performances in Italy and Spain.  She has sung with Opera at University of South Carolina, Opera in the Ozarks, Studio Lirico, Greenville Light Opera, Central Florida Lyric Opera and Piccolo Players.

Hill-LaRoche was a 2003 finalist in the Southeast Regional Metropolitan Opera Auditions and most recently, a 2008 National Association of Teachers of Singing Artist Award Regional finalist and the 2006 Artist of the Year with FBN Productions. In 2003, she was the Bizet Award winner for the Orpheus National Young Artist Vocal Competition and a Palmetto Opera Competition finalist in 2005.

She earned a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of North Alabama, and a Master of Music and Doctor of Music Arts degrees from the University of South Carolina.  At Coker, she teaches applied voice, diction and vocal pedagogy and serves as the faculty liaison for PULSE, a private-public collaboration to improve educational opportunities for students in Hartsville.

Upcoming engagements for Hill-LaRoche include a concert titled"Celebration of Inspiration" at 4:30 p.m. April 18 in Columbia, S.C., as part of the "Week of Remembrance: A Celebration of Jewish Culture," sponsored by the Opera-tunity Foundation.

Founded in 1944, the National Association of Teachers of Singing is the largest professional association of teachers of singing in the world with more than 7,000 members in 27 countries.

For more information about music programs at Coker College, contact Carswell at wcarswell@coker.edu.

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