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.