ISSUED: 23 February 2024
MEDIA CONTACT: Cecelia Mason
SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV — Shepherd University’s School of Music will present “A Night of Storytelling through Song” on Tuesday, February 27, at 7:30 p.m. as part of the Salon Series, sponsored by Jefferson Security Bank. Husband-and-wife duo, tenor Adam Griffiths and soprano Wendi Griffiths, adjunct music professor, accompanied on piano by Dr. Yu-Hsuan Liao, associate professor of music, will present an evening of engaging stories from opera, art song, and musical theater. The concert is free and open to the public.
“Like all musicians, singers prepare their pieces by learning their notes, rhythms, dynamics, and other musical attributes,” Wendi Griffiths said. “What differentiates singing from the performance of other instruments is that we add words and their meanings to our performances. While getting the notes and words right is important, an audience will appreciate a thoughtful presentation of a story. This recital focuses on just that: the storytelling of a song.”
Wendi Griffiths has had an extensive performing career, both in choirs and as a solo singer. Opera credits include the title role in “Amahl and the Night Visitors,” Fan in the World Premier of Mike Leavitt and Anthony Buck’s “A Christmas Carol,” and Belle in the same opera the following year. Some of her favorite musical theater performances include “The Secret Garden,” “The Scarlet Pimpernel,” and “Big River.”
Adam Griffiths has soloed in many large choral works including Dan Forrest’s “Requiem for the Living,” Robert Ray’s “Gospel Mass,” and the premiere of Neely Bruce’s oratorio “Circular 14: The Apotheosis of Aristides.” Other performing highlights include winning the University of Utah Concerto Competition, performing in six productions with the Ohio Light Opera company, and winning the inaugural Toian Bowser-Alexander award at the American Traditions Vocal Competition.
Liao worked with the American Repertory Ensemble and performed piano solo, chamber, and accompanied vocal music in the company’s performance series. Her solo performance with A.R.E. (“Valses Poéticos,” Passion at Play) was nominated for best instrumentalist in the Austin Critics Table Award for the 2008-2009 season. She published a 2009 book based on her dissertation, “Manuel de Falla’s Cuatro Piezas Españoles: Combinations and Transformations of the Spanish Folk Modes” (VDM Publishing, 2009).
For more information, visit the Calendar of Concerts and Events webpage.
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