The Saunter into Autumn: New Songs for Fall
$15
- Katie Procell, soprano
- Arianna Arnold, soprano
- Aaron Thacker, baritone & piano
- Valerie Hsu, piano
- Peter Dayton, piano & presenter
Tania León — Atwood Songs
Peter Dayton — In the Desert (world premiere; for dramatic baritone & piano)
Michael Rickleton — Time and Memory; Suite for Voice and Piano
Carl Smith — When Israel Out of Egypt Came (for voice & keyboard)
Join us for a celebration of the change of season: a concert of songs on the autumn themes of transition, mortality, and nature. "The Saunter into Autumn" features an eclectic program of contemporary art song sung by some of Baltimore's best and brightest artists: sopranos Katie Procell and Arianna Arnold sing works by Baltimore-based composers Peter Dayton and Michael Rickelton, as well as works by Tania León and Carl Smith. Baritone (and pianist) Aaron Thacker will give the world premiere of Dayton's In the Desert song cycle, setting poetry by Stephen Crane. All ticket sales will go to the performing artists. Peter Dayton and established collaborative pianists Valerie Hsu and Aaron Thacker will accompany these brilliant singers.
This concert is support by the Maryland State Arts Council. More information at https://msac.org.
About Arianna Arnold, soprano
Hailed as "outstanding" by the Maryland Theater Guide, Arianna Arnold is a Baltimore-based soprano with a passion for both classical and new music. Arianna attended Stetson University for her undergraduate degree, studying under Mr. Russell Franks; and completed her Masters of Music in Vocal Performance at The Peabody Conservatory of The Johns Hopkins University, studying with Dr. Stanley Cornett. Operatic performance highlights include Susanna in Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro, Pamina in Mozart's Die Zauberflöte, Minerva in Monteverdi's Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria, Naomi in Jonathan Bailey Holland's Naomi in the Living Room and Gertrude Stein in Dayton's May She|She May. Arianna has also premiered unpublished works from WWI composer Ivor Gurney and worked with local Maryland-based composers Peter Dayton and Garth Baxter to perform exciting new works.
About Aaron Thacker, baritone & piano
About Valerie Hsu, piano
Valerie Hsu is a collaborative pianist based in Baltimore. A Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition semifinalist, Valerie studied at Vanderbilt University with Craig Nies and Melissa Rose, where she was the inaugural recipient of the Gall/Martin Collaborative Arts Award. She has served as rehearsal and performance pianist for local collective Opera Alchemy on multiple productions. Ensemble highlights include a MinEvent performance of the music of John Cage on prepared piano with dancers from the Merce Cunningham Dance Company, the Southeastern United States premiere of George Antheil's complete and restored Ballet Mècanique, and serving as orchestral pianist on a 10-day performance tour of China.
https://uucolumbia.net/people/valerie-hsu/About Peter Dayton, piano & presenter
Peter Dayton described as "a composer whose heart and care are palpable" (American Record Guide), regularly produces concerts of poetry and song. His releases, All in the Sound: New Vocal Music by Peter Dayton (Navona Records, 2023) and Stories Out of Cherry Stems: Katie Procell sings works by Peter Dayton (2022) were both nominated for Critic's Choice by Opera News, which praised Dayton's "fresh and interesting sounds." His discography also includes Aspects of Landscape: Music from the world of John Hitchens (Independent, 2021) among others.
https://peterdaytonmusic.com