Thursday Morning Artist Series
Parking Information: Click here
Complimentary Coffee and Donuts at 10:00 am
Tickets $15, $10 (groups of 8+), $6 students, sold at the door, general seating
Program
Claude Debussy (1862-1918)
Clair de lune
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Batti, batti, o bel Masetto from Don Giovanni
Olivia Schurke, soprano
Young Artist Scholarship Competition Winner 2017 – College Intermediate Voice
John Carson, piano
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714-1788)
Sonata in a minor for solo flute Wq 132
Beth Blackledge, flute
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Sonata in g minor for flute and piano BWV 1020
Beth Blackledge, flute
DeeAnn Crossley, piano
W.A. Mozart (1756-1791)
Als Luise die Briefe ihres ungetreuen Liebhabers verbrannt
Abendempfindung, K. 523
Das Veilchen, K. 476
Ned Rorem (b. 1923)
Alleluia
O You Whom I Often and Silently Come
Ernest Charles (1895-1984)
When I Have Sung My Songs to You
William Bolcum (b. 1938)
Amor
Jane McMillen Thelen, soprano
Janet Scovill, piano
Robert Schumann (1820-1856)
Fantasy Pieces
Max Bruch (1838-1920)
Kol Nidrei
Nickolai Kolarov, cello
Myriana Moteva, piano
Please note, Charles Wazanowski, tuba has cancelled.
Performer Information
Olivia Schurke, soprano
Young Artist Scholarship Competition Winner 2017
Olivia Schurke, soprano
Young Artist Scholarship Competition Winner 2017 - College Intermediate Voice
Olivia Schurke is a soprano from St. Paul, Minnesota. She studies Vocal Performance at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN, and will graduate with a Bachelor of Music degree in May. Olivia has competed in various competitions around the Twin Cities. This year, she won first place in the Thursday Musical Young Artist Scholarship Competition in the college intermediate category. Her agile soprano voice possesses a rich, bell-like tone with mezzo qualities. In 2016, she appeared as Prince Orlofsky in St. Olaf Lyric Theater’s production of Die Fledermaus. This fall, she played Mad Margaret in Ruddigore. In addition to solo performance, Olivia flourishes in choral settings. She sings in the St. Olaf Choir, and works as a choral scholar at the Colonial Church of Edina. After her time at St. Olaf, she will take a hiatus before graduate school, continuing her vocal study and pursuing a job in arts administration.
Beth Blackledge, flute
Beth Blackledge, flute, originally from Iowa, graduated from Drake University. She recently retired as principal flutist for St. Paul Civic Symphony. She has appeared as soloist for Thursday Musical, Upper Midwest Flute Association, the Des Moines Symphony and the Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra. She is a private flute teacher in the Twin City Area.
Jane Thelen, soprano (Thursday Musical debut)
Jane McMillen Thelen is a singer, voice teacher and director in many Twin Cities area venues. She was last seen as the mother in Lyric Arts production of Pinkalicious. She also served as the choir director and soloist for Family of Christ Lutheran Church for 10 years as well as directing many children's productions there. Ms. Thelen has been a long standing member of the MN Opera chorus and was featured as the Milliner in Der Rosenkavalier.
Ms. Thelen received her Bachelor of Music degree from Concordia College and has completed her Masters of Music studies at the University of MN. While of the U of MN, Ms. Thelen sang the roles of Adele in Die Fledermaus, Mrs. Wordsworth in Albert Herring and understudied the role of Illia in Idomeneo. Other favorite roles she has performed are Anne Page in The Merry Wives of Windsor as well as many musical theater roles including Sara in Guys and Dolls, Maria in The Sound of Music and Josephine in HMS Pinafore.
Janet Scovill is a free lance accompanist for vocal and instrumental soloists and ensembles. She was a staff accompanist at the University of Northwestern-St Paul for nearly twenty years. She frequently accompanies for MMEA, competitions, concerts, and private lessons. Ms Scovill accompanies in the private voice studio of Mary Kay Schmidt and has served as rehearsal accompanist for numerous musicals and operas.
Nickolai Kolarov, cello
Bulgarian cellist Nickolai Kolarov is the founder of the Balkanicus series in the Twin Cities. The series has featured music written especially for him. He is the President of the Balkanicus Institute for Balkan Art, Culture and History, a not-for-profit organization that promotes the cultures from the Balkans. Kolarov performs both classical and contemporary repertoire throughout the country and appears as a soloist with orchestras from the Midwest. The Bulgarian National Radio and TV, as well as various radio and TV stations in Minnesota and Kansas, featured some of his performances. Kolarov has taught cello at the University of St. Thomas and has delivered lectures and master classes in several universities and colleges. In 2011 he was invited for a performance-lecture at the Juilliard School. Kolarov holds a DMA from the University of Minnesota where he studied with Igor Gavrish from the Moscow Conservatory of Music.