By Linda Waggener, assistant director of university communications
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. - Campbellsville University's School of Music students will perform a concert version of the opera “Carmen” Friday, April 27 and Tuesday, May 1 at 8 p.m. in The Gheens Recital Hall of the Gosser Fine Arts Center.
Admission is free of charge and seating is on a first-come, first-serve basis. “If you love to hear great voices singing some of the best music ever written, then come and see this famous opera,” said Dr. Mark Bradley, professor of music at CU.
Bradley said vocal students from the School of Music recently participated in a competition on the University of Kentucky campus and won several awards.
“Also, involved in the competition were many of the finest singers from colleges and universities in the states of Kentucky and Tennessee as well as southern Indiana,” he said.
Two Campbellsville University students won first place in their respective divisions while two others placed among the top three or four in their categories.
Marcelo Ferreira, a graduate student from Recife, Brazil. took the first place in the most advanced singer category which is usually reserved primarily for doctoral students, Bradley said.
Belani Segunda, also a graduate student from Reciffe, Brazil, won first place in one of the more advanced divisions of the competition.
Two other singers: Juliana Moura from Brazil, and Brittany Benningfield from Hodgenville, Ky., were semi-finalists in the intermediate adult and college senior women categories, respectfully.
“This is an amazing accomplishment for the School of Music, these students and their voice teachers,” said Bradley and Dr. Frieda Gebert, associate professor of music (vocal/choral) and associate dean.
Many of the best vocalists from the University of Kentucky, the University of Louisville, the University of Tennessee, Memphis University and many other schools large and small were part of this competition, Bradley said.
Bradley said the School of Music faculty is “very proud” of these students.
“We invite you to see these, and other talented performers, sing in ‘Carmen,'” he said.
For more information about the concert and the School of Music, contact Bradley at cmbradley@campbellsville.edu or (270) 789-5237.
Campbellsville University, now celebrating her Centennial year, is a private, comprehensive institution located in South Central Kentucky. Founded in 1906, Campbellsville University is affiliated with the Kentucky Baptist Convention and has an enrollment of 2,310 students who represent 100 Kentucky counties, 32 states and 28 foreign nations. Listed in U.S. News & World Report's “America's Best Colleges” 14 consecutive years as one of the leading Southern master's colleges and universities, Campbellsville University is located 82 miles southwest of Lexington, Ky., and 80 miles southeast of Louisville, Ky. Dr. Michael V. Carter is in his eighth year as president.