Thank you for the Music
Madison Edge, soprano
Collaborators
Melissa Cardamone, accompanist
Saturday, November 1, 2025 | 4 p.m.
H.F. Johnson Recital Hall
Kenosha, WI
Thank you for the Music Björn Kristian Ulvaeus from Mamma Mia (b. 1945)
Madison Edge With Melissa Cardamone, piano
Let Beauty Awake Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872–1953)
Và godendo George Frederick Handel from Serse (1685–1759)
Ici-bas! Gabriel Fauré (1845–1924)
Wie Melodien
Johannes Brahms (1833–1897)
Stizzoso mio stizzoso Giovanni Battista Pergolesi from La serva padrona (1710–1736)
Pie Jesu Gabriel Fauré from Requiem
Lullaby Cyril Scott (1879–1970)
O mio babbino caro
Giacomo Puccini from Gianni Schicchi (1858–1924)
Always Better Jason Robert Brown from The Bridges of Madison County (b. 1970)
acknowledgments
Madison would like to thank Rita Gentile for being an extraordinary vocal teacher. Rita not only helped her discover her voice, but also guided her through moments when it wasn’t at its best, offering wisdom and care every step of the way. She would also like to thank Melissa Cardamone for her incredible talent and dedication as a pianist, mastering the entire recital program with skill and artistry.
Special thanks go to Chase Juster for generously lending his time and creative eye to capture her recital photos, and her best friend, Kinsey Bakhaus, for rehearsing music with her—even in languages she didn’t understand.
Finally, the deepest gratitude goes to her mom and dad, whose unwavering love and encouragement have carried her through every high and low of college. Their constant belief in her dream to pursue music has shaped not only the musician she is today, but also the woman she has become.
Madison Edge is a senior music education major with a vocal emphasis. At Carthage, she enjoys singing with the Carthage Choir and Lincoln Chamber Singers. She has greatly enjoyed studying to be a music educator here at Carthage. And looks forward to furthering her career by student teaching next semester.
Melissa Kelly Cardamone has been an accompanist and vocal coach at Carthage College since 2010. She is also a classically trained soprano, having earned vocal performance degrees from The Eastman School of Music and Lawrence University. She started accompanying at age 10 for choirs, musicals, operas, voice and instrumental lessons, chamber music, and recitals. Mrs. Cardamone has accompanied for musical theatre technique classes and played for their end of term showcases. She also plays for the Carthage Choir and Vox Ignis under the direction of Dr. Maggie Burk. Melissa coaches individual students on recital and audition repertoire, and plays for student recitals and juries. Along with her duties at Carthage, Melissa is a rehearsal pianist for the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus. She has accompanied for the Kenosha Opera Festival, voice labs and concerts for Milwaukee Opera Theatre, for outreach concerts with the Florentine Opera, and for the Choral Arts Society in Racine, WI. She played in the pit orchestra for UW Parkside’s Company, and vocal directed and played in the pit for the Lakeside Players’ production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Mrs. Cardamone has also played piano in the Racine Concert Band, as well as serving as a vocal soloist. A lover of both opera and musical theater, some favorite singing roles include Mimì (La Bohème), Marianne (The New Moon), Audrey (Little Shop of Horrors), Laurie (The Tender Land), Sarah Brown (Guys ’n’ Dolls), Johanna (Sweeney Todd), Susanna (Marriage of Figaro), and Elizabeth (world premiere of Fortuna the Timebender vs. the Schoolgirls of Doom). She has sung leading roles with The Riverside Opera, The Bronx Opera, Milwaukee Opera Theatre, Music by the Lake, Festival Arts of Antioch, Opera for the Young, the Lakeside Players, The Kenosha Pops, The Racine Concert Band, The Belle Ensemble, and PM&L Theatre. Melissa has also sung with the Florentine Opera Chorus, in the chorus for Tales of Hoffmann at Skylight Music Theatre, and made her debut with Milwaukee Chamber Theatre in Masterclass. When not onstage, Mrs. Cardamone plays piano and cantors at St. Mary’s Church in Kenosha. She lives with her husband, Joe, who is an amateur musician himself, her two kids, and her dog, Finn.
statement of degree intent
This recital is given in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the B.M. in Music Education. Madison Edge is a student of Dr. Rita Gentile.
For more information and translations of the program, please scan the QR code