Chamber I: Haydn’s 73rd

Program

John Adams                             Shaker Loops

Benjamin Britten                      Phaedre

Viola Dacus, mezzo-soprano

Erkki-Sven Tüür                      Insula Deserta

Intermission

Franz Josef Haydn                   Symphony No. 73, the Hunt

VIOLA DACUS, MEZZO-SOPRANO

Viola Dacus, mezzo-soprano, has performed regionally as a recitalist as well as in opera and oratorio venues.  She has performed with such organizations as Baton Rouge Opera, Ohio Light Opera, Mississippi Opera, Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, Meridian Symphony Orchestra, members of the Louisiana Philharmonic, and the Manhattan Philharmonic in a performance of Verdi's Requiem at Carnegie Hall.  She has performed concerts throughout the Southeast as well as in Israel, Jordan, and Greece. She recently performed again with the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, this time the world premier of a song cycle, Reflections in the Mirror of Childhood, which was composed for her by James Sclater.  In November she will perform Benjamin Britten's Phaedra on the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra's Chamber Series.

Dr. Dacus received her Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Mississippi and her Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees (both in Vocal Performance) from Louisiana State University.  The subject of her doctoral monograph was the songs of German born composer Felix Wolfes.  She continues to promote his lieder in both recital and lecture recital formats including presentations at both the Texoma and the Southern Regional Conferences of NATS.  She is currently President of the Mississippi Chapter of NATS.

Dr. Dacus has served on the faculties of Phillips University in Enid, OK and Oklahoma State University, as well as having held interim positions at Southeastern Louisiana University and Louisiana State University.  She joined the Mississippi College faculty in 2001 and is currently Part-time Instructor of Voice.