Vocal Honors Academy Recital Set for Oct. 4

September 27, 2012

OBU's Warren M. Angell College of Fine Arts will host the 11th annual Vocal Honors Academy Oct. 4-5 on the Shawnee campus. The academy will include a faculty recital on Thursday, Oct. 4, at 7:30 p.m. in Raley Chapel's Yarborough Auditorium. The community is invited to attend the recital.

The faculty vocal recital will include performances by Dr. Louima Lilite, Dr. Jennifer McQuade and Dr. Mark McQuade. The program includes works by Handel, Mozart, Schubert, Korngold, Tchaikovsky and Bizet.

Dr. Louima Lilite	Dr. Jennifer McQuade	Dr. Mark McQuade

The 2012 Vocal Honors Academy is a 24-hour snapshot of the complete OBU vocal experience, designed especially for outstanding students from select Oklahoma high school choral programs. The honors program involves private lessons with college voice professors, a general recital by current students, a performance technique master class, choral rehearsal visit, a sight-singing class, a one-act operatic performance and fellowship with OBU students and faculty members.

High school junior and senior students who are outstanding students in their choral programs are eligible to be nominated by their high school choral directors. Admittance to the academy is limited, with a maximum of two students admitted from each school.

Lilite earned a bachelor's degree in voice and piano performance at Biola University, a master's degree in voice performance and pedagogy at Pennsylvania State University and a doctorate in voice performance and literature at Eastman School of Music. His performing credits include works from opera, oratorio, chamber music and the art song repertories. He has been featured several times with the Buffalo, N.Y., Philharmonic Orchestra. He has sung in the Middle East, Haiti and throughout the United States in concert and opera. His career has also guided his path to study with Carol Webber and perform for Dawn Upshaw, Benita Valente, Menahem Pressler, Brian Zeger and Israeli contralto Mira Zakai.

Among other honors, Lilite received OBU's Promising Teacher Award in 2009-10, the Music Teachers National Association Student Achievement Recognition (StAR) Award in 2007-08, the Excellence in Teaching Prize for teaching assistants at the Eastman School of Music in 2006-07 and the Presser Award.

A Canadian lyric coloratura soprano, Jennifer McQuade serves as assistant professor of music at OBU. She has credits in opera, oratorio and musical theatre and maintains an active performance schedule in the United States and Canada. She earned a bachelor's degree at Mount Allison University; an artist diploma in voice performance at the University of Western Ontario; a master's degree in solo vocal performance at McGill University; and a doctorate at the University of Mississippi.

Jennifer McQuade has credits in opera, oratorio and musical theatre, including the title role in "The Ballad of Baby Doe," Laetitia in "The Old Maid and The Thief," Nella in "Gianni Schicchi," Emma in "Jekyll and Hyde," Baker's Wife and Cinderella in "Into the Woods," and Lilly in "The Secret Garden." Recently, she performed at the Enid Symphony Center with her cello/voice/piano trio. A member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) and College Music Society (CMS) since 2006, she has presented research and performed for both societies. Most recently, she presented research at the 52nd NATS national conference in Orlando, Fla.

Mark McQuade is assistant professor of music at OBU, where he serves as the coordinator of vocal studies, teaches applied voice and vocal pedagogy, and directs operas. As a performer, McQuade has appeared in opera, musical theatre, concerts and recitals throughout the United States and Canada. He earned a bachelor's degree in vocal performance from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music where he studied with world-renowned vocal pedagogue Richard Miller. He earned a master's degree in vocal performance from the University of Oklahoma and doctorate in vocal pedagogy and performance from the University of Mississippi. He serves as the Oklahoma state governor for NATS, a post he has held since 2008. He is also the governor-elect for the TEXOMA Region of NATS.

In 2010, Mark McQuade was the recipient of the prestigious NATS Emerging Leader Award. He continues an active performance career along with his teaching, directing and research. Most recently he has served as the director of Seymour Barab's "Fortune's Favorites," Offenbach's "Le Mariage aux Lanternes" with OBU Opera Theater, music director for an OBU College of Fine Arts production of "Brigadoon," and music director for the Shawnee Little Theater production of "Hairspray."

For more information about the Vocal Honors Academy, the faculty recital or vocal studies at OBU, contact the Division of Music at (405) 878-2305 or visit the Division of Music Web page.