FCS Commercial Voice 11.13.23

Belmont University School of Music

Faculty Concert Series presents

“We’ll Be Together” Commercial Voice Faculty Concert Got To Get You into My Life

Belmont University School of Music

The Group Sweet Love

James R. Wigginton Rachel Gross*, BGVs Natalia Kawalec*, BGVs Rob Montero*, BGVs Elijah Morman*, BGVs Elana Purvis*, BGVs Good Man, Good Woman

Sandra Dudley Henry W. Smiley

The Times They Are A Changin’

Kate Paradise Stayin’ Alive

Bethany Merritt Kate Paradise Sandra Dudley MONDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2023 7:30 P.M.

Cissy Strut

Lennon/McCartney arr. Henry W. Smiley**

Baker/Johnson/Bias arr. James R. Wigginton**

L. Womack/C. Womack

Dylan arr. McGarry

B, R, M Gibb arr. McAlpine/Merritt**

Neville/Modeliste/Nocentelli/Porter, Jr. arr. Scofield

Faculty Band

MASSEY CONCERT HALL

The Lion, The Beast, The Beat

Sandra Dudley

Potter arr. S. Dudley**

Will Power

Henry W. Smiley Ashley Barber*, BGVs Haley Grimm*, BGVs Georgi Stern*, BGVs Aubrey Umphrey*, BGVs Molly Zeytoonian*, BGVs He Was Too Good To Me

Cheek To Cheek

Home

Unknown lyrics/music arr. Henry W. Smiley** track arr. Gorman†

Bethany Merritt

Bruce Bennett Kate Paradise

Bruce Bennett

You Can Go Your Own Way

The Group *School of Music Student **School of Music Faculty †School of Music Alumni

Band Marcus Perry+, piano/keys Cooper Thompson+, keys/synth Paulo Oliveira+ guitar Jeff Rogers+, guitar Roy Vogt+, bass Todd London+, drums Jojo Fisher*, tenor saxophone Johney Green*, tenor trombone Jacob Boyer*, trumpet Jack Wengrosky+, trumpet *School of Music Student +School of Music Faculty

Rodgers/Hart

Berlin

Smalls/Jones/Ashford/Simpson

Buckingham arr. Henry W. Smiley**

Faculty Bios Bruce Bennett is a versatile musician with a career that has spanned more than four decades. His professional accomplishments include hundreds of performances in nightclubs, concert halls, and theatres, studio recordings and numerous appearances on radio and television as well as, nearly thirty years as a teacher, adjudicator, and clinician. Bennett is the author of FROM ONE SINGER TO ANOTHER, journal articles, as well as a notes writer for Deutsche Grammophon and London Records.

Sandra Dudley has been performing and teaching voice for close to forty years.

She has performed with multiple ensembles throughout her career including the Nelson Riddle Big Band, Jazz Orchestra of the Delta, Nashville and Memphis Symphonies, and in clubs and concert halls throughout the United States and Canada. Dudley has recorded six nationally recognized studio albums. A full-time commercial voice professor at Belmont since 1995, she has taught undergraduate and graduate applied lessons and courses, as well as directed the ensemble Jazzmin. Dudley maintains an active performing and recording career.

Bethany Merritt holds a Bachelor of Music in Commercial Music from Belmont University and a Masters of Music in Jazz Performance from the University of Northern Colorado. Merritt has been on faculty at Vanderbilt University, Lipscomb University, The Ensworth School, and Nashville State Community College. In 2019 and 2020, she was nominated for the Nashville Industry Music Award for Best Jazz Vocalist. As a back-up vocalist, Merritt has shared the stage with Sara Bareilles, The New York Voices, Ben Folds, Hans Zimmer, Josh Groban, and the National Symphony Orchestra.

Kate Paradise began teaching at Belmont University in 2007 and currently serves as the Coordinator of Commercial Voice in the School of Music. Her educational background includes degrees in Studio Music and Jazz from the University of Miami and certification in Vocology from the National Center for Voice and Speech. Her long and varied music career has included appearances with Kurt Elling, John Pizzarelli, Hans Zimmer, Dynamo, and on Putamayo’s International release, Women of Jazz. Paradise’s favorite pastimes include feeling proud of her exceptional students and chasing around her five-year old daughter.

Henry W. Smiley arrived in Nashville in 1984 and was a vocal coach and assistant arranger for Gaylord Entertainment for fourteen years before transitioning to his current Assistant Professor position as a Commercial Voice faculty member at Belmont in 1998. He has always felt that it’s an honor and blessing to be part of such a talented faculty and staff. He has been a singer, vocal coach, conductor, teacher, songwriter, arranger, and orchestrator for the past 40 years, and is constantly inspired by all of the students' accomplishments in the SOM.

Veteran Vocal and Stage Performance Coach, James R. Wigginton serves many of today’s most influential entertainers, such as Luke Combs, JellyRoll, Florida Georgia Line, Muscadine Bloodline, as well as industry legends such as John Michael Montgomery and Pam Tillis. Now in his twenty-first year serving as Commercial Voice faculty at Belmont, Wigginton directs the ensemble PHNX, (“Phoenix”), teaches private voice, entrepreneurship, and brings his trademark personal touch and warmth serving as host to high-profile shows such as Christmas at Belmont and President’s Concert. His flair for creating memorable moments places the listener’s experience at the heart of every performance.

 Sincere Appreciation Sandra Dudley—Commercial Voice Faculty Concert Coordinator Henry W. Smiley—Musical Director Bret Bell and the Massey Performing Arts Center Crew Cooper Thompson—Transcriptions/Charts Jamie Wigginton—Poster Design Gina Lackore—Program

 Upcoming Concerts and Events Chamber Bass Wednesday, November 15, 10:00 a.m.

McAfee Concert Hall Music and Discourse

Hearing History in Southeastern Conference Fight Songs Friday, November 17, 10:00 a.m.

McAfee Concert Hall

Musical Theatre: Hello, Dolly!

Thursday, November 16, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, November 17, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, November 18, 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, November 19, 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Troutt Theatre

Tickets for this even are required and can be reserved through the Belmont Box Office



For more information on upcoming concerts and events, please visit www.belmont.edu/cmpa or “like” Belmont University School of Music on Facebook.