Liam Ayers Junior Recital
April 25, 2026 1PM HMUS101
Collinsworth School of Performing Arts
Liam Ayers, voice
Fred Carama, piano
Program
Italian Set *
Alma del core (Soul of the Heart)
Come Raggio di Sol (Like a Ray of the Sun)
Vittoria, mio core (Victory, My Heart)
Dichterliebe (A Poet’s Love), Op. 48
German Set *
Antonio Caldara (1670-1736)
Antonio Caldara (1670-1736)
Giacomo Carissimi (1605-1674)
Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
I. Im wunderschönen Monat Mai (In The Wonderful Month of May)
II. Aus meinen Tränen sprießen (From My Tears Bloom)
Die Mainacht (The May Night) Op. 43
Intermission
English Set *
On The Street Where You Live
Come Away Death
Younger Than Springtime
*Please wait to applaud until the end of each set
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Frederick Loewe (1901-1988)
Roger Quilter (1877-1953)
Richard Rogers (1902-1979)
This recital is presented under the direction of Professor Fred Carama in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the B.M. in Vocal Performance.
ARTIST
Liam N. Ayers is a Vocal Performance Major at California Baptist University striving to become a University Professor teaching the art of Vocal Pedagogy. Since he was a young child around age three, he showed an incredible talent and love for music, especially singing. As he grew, he sang in various choirs, performed in community theater, took guitar classes, and briefly played alto saxophone in marching, concert, and jazz bands. Over time, he taught himself multiple instruments with the help of his teachers, parents, and YouTube. He ultimately prioritized singing above everything else, participating in four honor choirs in high school and briefly serving as student conductor. At sixteen, he had the honor of performing at Carnegie Hall in New York with the WorldStrides Honor Choir Group in February of 2022. At CBU, Liam quickly gained recognition as a singer and musician, earning roles in Musical Theater and Opera including “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”, “Dido and Aeneas”, “Trial By Jury”, “Gianni Schicchi”, “Little Women”, “The Magic Flute”, and two original musicals by Caleb Hebert and Dr. Pickett. For the past three years, he has been part of various choirs at CBU including Camerata which performed across Central Italy this past March.
COLLABORATIVE ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
Fred Carama is widely known as one of the most respected voice teachers in the United States. His students perform on the world’s leading opera and concert stages in repertoire ranging from baroque to bel canto, and from Wagner to contemporary musical theater. With an extensive background in physiology and anatomy, Professor Carama combines the aesthetics of great singing with a profound understanding of the fundamentals of vocal health.
TEXTS AND TRANSLATIONS
Alma del core
By Antonio Caldara ENGLISH
Soul of my heart, Spirit of my soul, Always constantly will I adore you! I will be contented In my torment If only I could kiss that beautiful lip.
Come Raggio di Sol
By Antonio Caldara ENGLISH
Like a ray of the sun, mild and serene, Upon placid waves seeks response, Whilst within the sea’s deep clutches A tempest lies hidden: So, a blithe and calm smile sometimes Let one’s lips exude contentment, Midst the hidden sufferings of a wounded heart.
Vittoria, mio core
By Giacomo Carissimi ENGLISH
Victory, my heart! Weep no more. Low servitude to love is over. The ungodly woman deceived you With glances and glances and untrue caress; Deceit and sorrow have no more place, The embers of her cruel fire have gone out! Her laughing eyes don’t shoot arrows any longer, Which struck a mortal wound in my breast: Neither grief nor torment worry me any longer; Every snare is broken, and fear has disappeared.
Dichterliebe, Op. 48
By Robert Schumann ENGLISH
In the wonderful month of May, When all the buds were bursting, Then in my heart, love arose. In the wonderful month of May, When all the buds were springing, A song of love and yearning Right in my heart was ringing. In May, the lovely month of May, When all the birds were singing, I told her of my longing: That love my heart was stinging.
From my tears sprout forth many blooming flowers, And my sighing become joined with The chorus of the nightingales. And if you love me, dear child, I will send you so many flowers; And before your window should sound The song of the nightingale.
Die Mainacht
By Johannes Brahms ENGLISH
When the silver moon twinkles through the bushes. And dusts the grass with its sleepy light, And the nightingale pipes like a flute, I wander mournfully from bush to bush. I call you blessed then, fluting nightingale, For your beloved lives with you in one nest, And gives her singing spouse a thousand loving kisses. Surrounded with leaves, a pair of doves’ coos Their delight to me, but I turn away, Seeing darker shadows, And a solitary tear flows.
O smiling image that, like the red light of the morning. Shines through my soul, when will I find you on earth? And the solitary tear Trembles more warmly on my cheek.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Liam Ayers would like to take this time to thank God, his family, his friends, and his professors/teachers for their unconditional support in his journey to become a better performer. He realizes that he would not be here without the people who have continued to encourage him, pray for him, correct him, and believe in him every step of the way. Their patience, guidance, and constant support have helped shape him into not only a stronger musician, but a stronger person overall. A lot of the things that have happened throughout this journey were not planned and were surprising to him. There were opportunities he did not expect, challenges that pushed him outside of his comfort zone, and moments that tested his patience and confidence. However, he appreciates every single one of those experiences because each one has helped him grow and strive to be the best person and musician that he can be. Every lesson learned and every obstacle faced has played a role in his development. From the bottom of his heart, he truly thanks everyone who has been there for him and who continues to believe in him.
“Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!” Psalm 115:1
