Moses performs recital with special guest Joseph Meeks
By Natalia H. Schust
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(Above) Oral Moses (Below) Joseph Meeks |
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Professor of Voice and Music Literature Oral Moses will perform his annual recital at 3 p.m. on Feb. 3, 2008. Moses’ recital is a celebrated tradition at Kennesaw State University. However, this year has extra excitement: it is his first time performance in the new Dr. Bobbie Bailey & Family Performance Center and he will be joined on the program by KSU College of the Arts Dean Joseph Meeks.
Opened in October 2007, the Bailey Performance Center features an acoustically stellar 630-seat concert hall that the Atlanta Journal-Constitution has ranked as one of Atlanta’s top performance venues. "I am excited about performing in the Bailey Center for the first time," Moses said.
Moses also was excited about inviting Meeks to perform on the program. A classically trained concert pianist, Meeks began performing less frequently after he was named dean in 1998. In recent months, however, he has returned to his performance roots, appearing on a few select recitals in the region. “I have always loved performing,” Meeks said. “It is difficult to practice because of my schedule, but I’m really enjoying being and on the stage playing instead of speaking for a change.”
According to Moses, the program will feature a “variety of German, French, English, and Italian pieces." Moses added that the highlights will include works by Handel, Schubert, Brahms, and Debussy. "I will also perform pieces by African-American composers such as Charles Lloyd and Moses Hogan," Moses said.
Moses’ vast career includes performances with American opera companies in “The Marriage of Figaro,” “Regina,” “La Boheme,” “Albert Herring,” “Tremonisha,” “Rigoletto,” and “The Magic Flute.” He also has performed with the Nashville, Jackson, Detroit, Lansing, Tacoma and Atlanta Symphony Orchestras. Moses co-authored the book “Feel the Spirit Studies in Nineteenth Century Afro-American Music.” Additionally, he has recorded several CDs, including “Deep River: Songs and Spirituals of Harry T. Burleigh” and “Amen! African-American Composers of the Twentieth Century.”
The recital is free and open to the public. For more information, call 770-423-6650.