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April 8, 2004
CONTACT:
Gordon Ovenshine (724) 738-4854; e-mail: gordon.ovenshine@sru.edu
For photo of Dr.
Zhong: CLICK
HERE
PROMINENT
CHINESE OPERA SINGER TO PERFORM CHINESE FOLK SONG
ARRANGEMENTS APRIL 20 AT SLIPPPERY ROCK
UNIVERSITY
SLIPPERY
ROCK, Pa. – Dr. Mei Zhong, a prominent opera singer and
concert soloist who has performed extensively in China and the
United States, will sing April 20 at Slippery Rock University,
accompanied by pianist Dr. James Helton, assistant professor of
music at Ball State University. The public is
invited.
The
concert is 8 p.m. in Swope Recital Hall. Tickets are $5 for general
public, $3 for students.
Zhong
has performed in operas and recitals in both China and the United
States, including seven years performing with Henyang Baihua
Theater in China, a professional opera and dance company. Her many
leading roles include her favorite role as Butterfly in
“Madama Butterfly.” Her numerous U.S.
performances, solo recitals and concerts have taken her to Alabama,
California, Idaho, Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri,
Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia and
Washington. Zhong is assistant professor of music performance at
Ball State University.
She
is the recipient of several awards and honors. She received first
prize in the National Vocal Competition for The Alice Abel National
Vocal and Instrumental Awards in 2000, after winning the Idaho
District Vocal Competition in 1999 and 2000. She was also selected
as one of 12 teachers for the National Association of Teachers of
Singing Intern program in 2000. In 2002, she was honored with
the Master Teacher Award by Idaho State University.
Her
lecture-concert "East Meets West" was presented for the 2001
College Music Society International Conference at the University of
Limerick in Ireland. Two of her papers “How does a Puccini
Melody Unfurl in Time?” and “Anthology of
Chinese Songs”were presented at the 2003 International
Conference on Arts and Humanities in Hawaii. Also in 2003, Zhong
presented her lecture-recital/premiere of newly arranged Chinese
folk songs at the International College Music Society Conference in
Costa Rica.
The
publication of her book “Tempo in the Soprano Arias of
Puccini’s La Bohème, Tosca, and Madama
Butterfly” has won her reviews in vocal circles. Several of
her articles have also been published, including her research paper
"Problems of Tempo in Puccini's Arias," which appeared in
“The College Music Symposium.”
An
active performer, pianist Helton has been heard in many states
throughout the U.S. as recitalist, collaborator and orchestra
soloist. He has worked with Pulitzer Prize- winning composers
George Crumb, William Bolcom, Lucas Foss and Joseph Schwantner in
concerts broadcast over public radio and television. For New World
Records, Helton collaborated with the Blair Woodwind Quintet on
works by composer Michael Kurek producing a Grammy-nominated
CD.
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