The Sounds of a Century Centennial Celebration
The evening will showcase alumni performers and composers whose talents and careers have been shaped by Converse, students whose abilities are being cultivated today for promising futures, and faculty artists who are active and acclaimed as performers throughout the world.
Alumni performers include:
- Kimilee Bryant ’88, soprano, who holds the lead role of Christine in The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway, internationally and on the U.S. National Tour.
- Wael Farouk MM ’06, world-renowned pianist and the first Egyptian to ever perform Rachmaninoff’s Third Concerto in Egypt in 2002 and Russia in 2003.
- Elizabeth Child ’77, pianist, who began her musical career at age six in the Converse College Lawson Academy of the Arts, and was awarded a solo recital debut at Carnegie Hall as winner of the Twelfth Annual Artists International Auditions.
- Ann Ratteree Herlong ’51, third place winner in the Van Cliburn Foundation’s 2004 International Piano Competition for Outstanding Amateurs.
- Anna Steenerson ’03, soprano, who earned her Master’s degree from Indiana University and is an apprentice artist with Lake George Opera in Saratoga, New York.
- Richard Troxell MM ’88, lyric tenor, who has sung leading roles with several of the world’s most renowned opera companies, portrayed Lieutenant Pinkerton in the Sony Pictures’ film Madame Butterfly, regularly performs as soloist with orchestras throughout the U.S. and abroad, and has numerous recording credits.
In addition, the concert will feature The Converse Trio performing a movement of Café Music by Paul Schoenfield ’67, celebrated composer of works for piano, chamber ensembles, orchestra and voice. The Spartanburg Festival Chorus, Converse Chorale, Converse Wind Ensemble and Converse Symphony Orchestra will also delight audiences with music of the past century.