Belmont University School of Music presents the
Keith B. Moore
Belmont University School of Music
Classical Singers Recital L’amante spagnuolo from Soirées d'automne à l'Infrascata
Si mes vers avaient des ailes
Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1848)
Reynaldo Hahn (1874-1947)
Katherine Light, soprano Alessandra Volpi, piano
A Brown Bird Singing
Haydn Wood (1882-1959)
Date abbiento al mio dolore
Stefano Donaudy (1879-1925)
Elyse Brown, soprano Drake Bailey, piano
Von ewiger Liebe
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Heart, We Will Forget Him from Twelve Poems of Emily Dickinson Sunday September 27, 2026 2:00 P.M. McAfee Concert Hall
Wesleigh Jane Augusta Winfrey, soprano Alessandra Volpi, piano
Aaron Copland (1900-1990)
Per pietà, bell’idol mio from Sei Ariette
Vincenzo Bellini (1801-1835)
The Singer
Michael Head (1900-1976) Abby Everett, soprano Olena Williams, piano
O Mistress Mine from Three Shakespeare Songs
Roger Quilter (1877-1953)
Per la gloria d’adorarvi
Giovanni Bononcini (1670-1747) Peyton Smith, tenor Micah Snow, piano
My Heart Is Like a Singing Bird
Charles Hubert Parry (1848-1918)
Và godendo from Serse
George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) Jadyn Case, soprano Olena Williams, piano
Azulão
Jayme Ovalle (1894-1955)
El Vito from Canciones Clásicas Españolas Kiara Valladares, soprano Drake Bailey, piano
Fernando Obradors (1896-1945)
The Black Swan from The Medium
Gian Carlo Menotti (1911-2007)
Beau Soir
Claude Debussy (1862-1918) Victoria Uribe, soprano Alessandra Volpi, piano
Sole e Amore
Giacomo Puccini 1858-1924
Romance from Deux Romances
Claude Debussy (1862-1918) Daniela Baker, soprano Chris Smallwood, piano
Unis dès la plus tendre enfance from Iphigénie en Tauride
Christoph Willibald Gluck (1714-1787)
Chitarra Romana
Eldo di Lazzaro (1902-1968) Javier Castro, tenor Alessandra Volpi, piano
Pippa’s Song
Ned Rorem (1923-2022)
Mein Herr Marquis
Johann Strauss II (1825-1899) Anna Cannito, soprano Drake Bailey, piano
'Tis Time!
Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943)
Das Rosenband
Richard Strauss (1864-1949) Rox Davidson, mezzo-soprano Olena Williams, piano
About the Performers Katherine Light, soprano, is a senior Music Education and Vocal Performance double major studying under Dr. Mark Whatley. An avid performer and Nashville native, she is very involved in the local theatre scene. Some of her favorite roles include Tzeitel (Fiddler on the Roof), Savannah (Freaky Friday), and Lorraine (All Shook Up). She also serves as the Vice President of Belmont’s NAfME chapter, enjoys music directing and choreographing productions, and is the Soprano 1 Section Leader for Belmont Chorale. Elyse Brown, soprano, is a freshman Vocal Performance major studying with Dr. Angela Yoon. In high school, Brown was a two-time Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) Mixed Choir All-State Participant and a soloist at the 2026 Southwest American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) Conference. Brown is also a member of Belmont’s University Singers. Wesleigh Jane Augusta Winfrey, soprano, is a junior Vocal Performance major studying with Dr. Mark Whatley. During her time at Belmont, she has performed with the Belmont Symphony, Bel Canto, and many other ensembles as a member of the Belmont Chorale, directed by Dr. Jeffrey Ames. With Chorale, she has also had the opportunity to sing alongside revered artists such as Cece Winans and Andrea Bocelli and attended the Southern ACDA Conference. Winfrey has performed roles in Belmont Opera Theatre, including a Bridesmaid in Chabrier's L’étoile and Venus in Orphée aux enfer by Offenbach. She will perform in this fall's Opera Scenes as Angela (Patience) and Minnie (Die Fledermaus), as well as in Belmont Symphony's The Notebooks of da Vinci. Abby Everett, soprano, is a junior Vocal Performance major studying under Dr. Angela Yoon. Since coming to Belmont, she has been a part of ensembles such as Opera Theatre
and Chorale. In the summer of 2025, she participated in the International Orfeo Music Festival in Italy and won the Orfeo Prize in the vocal competition. Subsequently, in the spring of 2026, Everett studied abroad at the Royal Welsh Academy of Music and Drama in Cardiff, Wales. This fall, she is looking forward to performing in Belmont Opera Theatre’s scenes production, Opera Around the World. Peyton Smith, tenor, is a sophomore Vocal Performance major in the studio of Dr. Museop Kim. Smith has appeared in choral and solo performances across the United States, ranging from church music to regional competitions and inaugural balls in Washington, D.C. He has performed with several choirs, including the Delta Youth Chorale in Louisiana (dir. Jerrod Richey), the 2024 Honor Choir USA in Hawaii, and the Belmont University Singers and Chamber Singers, under Drs. Jane Warren and Deen Entsminger. Recently, Smith won 1st Place in the Lower Classical Division of the NATS 2026 Mid-South Regionals. Jadyn Case, soprano, is a sophomore Vocal Performance major from Bryan, Texas. She studies with Dr. Kristi Whitten and is excited to be a member of the Belmont Opera Theatre this year. In this fall’s scenes production, Case will perform the roles of Molly in Die Fledermaus and the wife in Dr. Dean Entsminger’s Godspeed. She was a semi-finalist in the 2026 NATS Mid-South Regional Auditions, and her favorite Belmont performance opportunity thus far was the inaugural SPARK Day Classical Voice Recital. She continues to excel in her academics, having made the Dean’s List in Fall 2025 and Spring 2026. Soprano Kiara Valladares is a junior Vocal Performance major in Dr. Savanna Sokolnicki’s studio. Valladares has performed in numerous operas, musicals, plays, and choral works. Earlier this year, she appeared as Youca in L’étoile (Belmont University) and the Second Lady/Second Spirit in Die Zauberflöte (Trentino Music Festival) and was featured in the inaugural SPARK Day Classical Voice Recital. With Belmont Chorale, she performed Dr. Jeffery Ames’ Requiem for Color and joined Andrea Bocelli for his Nashville and Alabama concerts. Valladares' other roles have included Mrs. Potts in Beauty and the Beast and Marci in Almost, Maine. Victoria Uribe is a Colombian-American soprano and senior Vocal Performance major at Belmont University, where she studies with Dr. Mark Whatley. This past summer, she participated in the Prague Summer Nights Festival, performing in productions of Puccini’s Suor Angelica and Mozart’s Don Giovanni and Die Zauberflöte. At Belmont, Uribe is an active member of Belmont Opera Theatre and has performed scenes from Rusalka and The Yeomen of the Guard. This semester, she will appear as Gianetta in a scene from Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore. Her Belmont Opera Theatre credits also include Aloès in Emmanuel Chabrier’s L’étoile, as well as ensemble roles in Hansel andGretel and Pinocchio. Uribe was selected to participate in a masterclass with Dr. Stephen Smith and has also been
a member of the Belmont Chamber Singers. She has been named to the Dean’s List every semester at Belmont and serves as Vice President of Community Wellness on Belmont’s Panhellenic Council, a College of Music and Performing Arts Ambassador, and a Towering Traditions Leader. Daniela Baker, soprano, is a senior pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance under Dr. Savanna Sokolnicki. Her roles include Maguelonne in Viardot’s Cendrillon, the Dew Fairy in Hansel und Gretel, and Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance. She has also appeared in scenes as a Wood Sprite in Rusalka and Giulietta in Les Contes d’Hoffmann. This fall, she will perform the role of Despina in scenes from Mozart’s Così fan tutte. Baker has performed in the Keith B. Moore Classical Singers Recital for three consecutive years and placed in the top five performers of her NATS Mid-South Regional division this past spring. She currently serves as President of the Belmont Opera Club. Honduran-American tenor Javier Castro is a senior Vocal Performance major from Knoxville, Tennessee, studying with Dr. Mark Whatley. His recent roles include Monostatos and Tamino (cover) in Die Zauberflöte, as well as Nemorino in scenes from L’elisir d’amore, with the Prague Summer Nights Festival. Previously, he performed Don Curzio in Le nozze di Figaro (with PSN) in Vienna and Ferrando in Così fan tutte with Opera Lucca. His Belmont Opera Theatre role credits include Cascada in The Merry Widow, Pinocchio in Pinocchio, King Ouf I in L’étoile, and Roméo in Roméo et Juliette (scenes). Castro has performed with the Nashville Bel Canto Foundation and toured with Andrea Bocelli as part of the Belmont Chorale. In October 2026, Castro will make his Nashville Opera debut in the ensemble of Tosca. A two-time NATS national finalist and ICCA World Champion, he currently serves as president of the two-time ICCA-winning a cappella group The Pitchmen. Anna Cannito, soprano, is a senior vocal performance major from Las Vegas. Cannito has performed leading and supporting roles with Belmont Opera Theatre, including Laoula in Chabrier’s L’etoile, Olympia in John Davies' Pinocchio, and Frasquita in Bizet’s Carmen as well as earning recognition abroad with the Orfeo Prize at the Orfeo International Music Competition in Vipiteno, Italy. Most recently, she took on the role of Suor Genovieffa in Puccini's Suor Angelica with the Prague Summer Nights Festival. Cannito is completing her studies in the studio of Dr. Savanna Sokolnicki, preparing the role of Adele in this fall’s Opera Scenes production, and working on new operatic roles and expanding her repertoire for both stage and competition. Rox Davidson is an Australian-American mezzo-soprano with performing experience in Singapore, Thailand, Germany, and the United States. This marks Davidson’s third year being selected to perform in the Keith B. Moore Classical Singers Recital, and earlier this
spring, they received the Best Undergraduate Performance Award at the Mid-South NATS Competition. They have performed numerous opera roles such as Lazuli in L'étoile, The Cat in John Davies’ Pinocchio, Dryade in Ariadne auf Naxos, and most recently, Dritte Dame in Die Zauberflöte. In scenes, Davidson has appeared as The Woodpecker in The Cunning Little Vixen and Bradamante in Alcina. They can be seen this fall in Belmont Opera Theatre’s scenes showcase as Prince Orlofsky in Die Fledermaus, Mrs. Todd in The Old Maid and the Thief, and Gertrude in Louise. Davidson is a senior Vocal Performance major, studying with Dr. Angela Yoon.
About the Judges Dr. Emily Bullock, mezzo-soprano, is a frequent recitalist and performer of opera, oratorio, and orchestral works. She is also an award-winning opera director and splits her time between performance, teaching, and directing. Dr. Bullock has collaborated on multiple CD recordings and participated in the prestigious Marlboro Festival. Other performances include Bach with the Colorado Chamber Players, and the role of Ruth at the Buxton, England Gilbert and Sullivan Festival. She was awarded Best Director for The Sorcerer for the Gettysburg/Buxton Gilbert and Sullivan Festival. Dr. Bullock is a Professor of Voice at West Chester University, in West Chester, PA. Dr. Mark Kano is an Associate Professor of Music and Vocal Music Area Coordinator at Bellarmine University in Louisville, KY where he teaches Applied Voice Lessons and directs the Lyric Theatre Workshop. He received both the Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in Voice Performance from the University of Kentucky. He has performed regionally with opera companies and orchestras, such as Kentucky Opera, Cincinnati Opera, Nashville Opera, Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra, Louisville Orchestra, and the Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra. A dedicated voice teacher, Dr. Kano’s students have pursued music studies at the University of Michigan Musical Theatre Program, Indiana University, Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music, The Julliard School, among others. Dr. Kano served as the Mid-South Region Governor for National Association of Teachers of Singing from 20192023.
Keith B. Moore Classical Singers Recital The Classical Singers Recital began in 1992 as a way to provide an extra performance opportunity for our most outstanding classical vocal students each year in the School of Music. In 2019, the recital was renamed in honor of Professor Emeritus Dr. Keith B. Moore, who taught classical voice at Belmont for thirty-eight years and served as Coordinator of the Vocal Program in the School of Music. A teacher, administrator, leader, and musical performer, Dr. Moore provided organization and leadership to one of the largest vocal programs in the country. He also served as a conductor, pianist, singer, and vocal pedagogue. Beyond Belmont, he gave numerous concert and operatic performances, including many roles with Nashville Opera and Tennessee Opera Theatre. Dr. Moore was also an active recording session artist, having sung background vocals on recordings with Amy Grant, Larnell Harris, Steve Green, Michael Crawford, Sandy Patti, and Michael W. Smith. The twelve performers for today’s “Keith B. Moore Classical Singers Recital” auditioned and were selected by guest adjudicators. These students represent a variety of study within the Belmont School of Music, which offers numerous majors in classical voice, including Church Music, Music Education, Music with an Outside Minor, Music Performance, and Music Therapy, as well as graduate degrees in Vocal Pedagogy and Vocal Performance. Students in the classical voice area receive an education that is both challenging and nurturing, studying a wide range of musical styles and repertoire in a thriving Christian environment.
All are invited to the reception in the lobby following the recital.
Upcoming Concerts & Events Belmont University Symphony Orchestra Living Pages: The Art of Musical Storytelling Monday, September 28, 7:30 p.m. The Fisher Center for the Performing Arts Jeff Williams, CFO of Ramsey Solutions Financial Strategies for Musicians Wednesday, September 30, 10:00 a.m. Hitch 130 Composition Honors Recital Wednesday, September 30, 7:30 p.m. McAfee Concert Hall Guest Recitalist, piano: Dr. Arunesh Nadgir Thursday, October 30, 7:30 p.m. Harton Recital Hall Concert Band & Wind Ensemble Friday, October 2, 7:30 p.m. McAfee Concert Hall Musical Theatre A Grand Night for Singing Friday, October 2, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, October 3, 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, October 4, 2:00 p.m. Massey Concert Hall Tickets are required for this event and can be reserved through the Belmont Box Office.
For more information on upcoming concerts and events please visit www.belmont.edu/cmpa.