MUSIC

Houston Civic Symphony presents Beethoven Symphony No. 9, "Choral,"  Friday, May 1, at 7:30pm at Houston Baptist University - Morris Cultural Arts Center.

Houston Civic Symphony, with the combined Choirs of Houston Baptist University, with soloists Lynda Keith-McKnight, soprano; Debra Seibart, mezzo soprano; Russ Clark, tenor; and Stephen Ray, bass, present Beethoven's Symphony No. 9, Brian Runnels, conductor.

Lynda Keith-McKnight is Assistant Professor of Music at Houston Baptist University. She is widely known as a soloist, having performed all over the world in both operatic and concert venues. She holds degrees from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and Baylor University. Her credits include appearances with the Metropolitan Opera and the Nuremberg Symphony, as well as recitals in Carnegie Hall, Prague, Tel Aviv, and throughout the United States. In addition, she regularly serves as clinician, master teacher, and adjudicator in such diverse venues as colleges; high school, college and professional competitions; and public school state level auditions. She has two CD's available, both featuring her in world premieres.

Debra Wesemann-Seibert, mezzo-soprano, has extensive singing experience of opera, recital, and concert performance in the U.S. and abroad. Her roles include Cherubino and Marcellina (The Marriage of Figaro), Hansel and the Mother(Hansel and Gretel), Orlofsky (Die Fledermaus), Zerlina and Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni), Nancy (Albert Herring), Clorinda (Tancredi), Lola (Cavalleria Rusticana), and many others. Debra has worked with orchestras and opera companies such as Sugar Land Opera, Southern Nevada Musical Arts Society, Opera Las Vegas, Opera Southwest, Opera Unlimited, Santa Fe Opera Outreach, the Waco Symphony, and has appeared in many concerts and recitals as a special guest or featured performer. She also has been on the stage of the Houston Grand Opera as a chorus member. Debra has won awards such as district winner and regional finalist of the Metropolitan Opera Nation Council Auditions, 2nd place in the NATS Texoma region, two time district winner of the NATSAA competition, winner of the James Huntzinger Concerto Competition, among others. She has participated in programs such as Operafestival di Roma, and was selected for the Des Moines Metro Opera apprentice program. Debra will finish her DMA this semester from the University of Nevada Las Vegas; her MM is from Baylor University, and BM from Brigham Young University. Debra is the founder of the company, Bravi Beginnings, which creates media products teaching children foundational musical concepts and singing skills preparatory for further music studies. She lives in Katy, TX with her husband, FOX meteorologist Dr. Jim Siebert and their four children.

Russ Clark, tenor, is an active performer and educator in the Houston area who has delighted audiences for 25 years. He has been a featured soloist with many orchestras including the Houston Symphony in a performance of Chichester Psalms under the direction of Leonard Bernstein. He has performed opera and musical theater roles in Houston at Houston Baptist University, University of Houston, Opera in the Heights, Houston Community College, and with the Gilbert & Sullivan Society of Houston. With G&S he performed the role of Colonel Fairfax in the 1998 performance of The Yeomen of the Guard that won awards at the International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival in Buxton, England. He sang in the premiere performances of Bonhoeffer, an opera by HBU composer, Ann Gebuhr. For 10 years he was a chorus member and sang minor principal roles with Houston Grand Opera. For 14 years he has been Director of Choral Activities at Elkins High School in Fort Bend County, where he has been recognized as Teacher of the Year. A graduate of Houston Baptist University, he had additional study at Indiana University and the University of Houston.

Stephen Anthony Ray, baritone, is generating much noise and notice in the world of music as an up and coming classical vocalist from Arkansas. Having performed extensively for wedding events, churches, schools, young artist programs, symphonies and opera companies, Stephen is laying the foundation for what promises to be an exciting career as an opera singer. A 2008 Grand Finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, Stephen recently performed with the Arkansas Symphony as bass soloist on the Beethoven Symphony no. 9. As graduate student at Rice University, he has had vocal study with many world renowned singers including Marilyn Horne and Sherrill Milnes.