OC vocal music students to perform for Black History Month Feb. 27

The voice recital will feature songs written by African American composers and will begin at 7 p.m. in the Adams Recital Hall.

February 15, 2021

Oklahoma Christian University’s Music Program will soon feature a first-ever voice recital celebrating African American composers on Feb. 27. The concert will be in celebration of Black History Month, and it is directed by Celeste Dvorak, OC’s administrative assistant for the Department of Fine and Liberal Arts and a vocal coach. 

Dvorak designed the hour-long recital to include classical music, a few spirituals, opera pieces and songs from musicals. All of the songs for the evening were created by Black American composers like Florence B. Price, John W. Work, Mark Fax, Undine Smith Moore, Margaret Bonds, Moses Hogan and more. 

Dvorak designed the recital due to the unfortunate lack of diversity in classical music education.

“Pieces composed by Black Americans are often overlooked in the classical community,” Dvorak said. "So, OC Music decided to create a performance dedicated to a few of the many excellent Black American composers to celebrate their work and highlight it during Black History Month.”

Each vocal music performer studies voice, but they do not all major in it. This recital includes many OC Music students such as Breanna Massie, Stephen Gaub, Kali Thompson and Lily Blanchard.
The recital will be in the Adams Recital Hall on Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. The concert is free to the public, although proper COVID precautions will be taken, including spaced seating and checked temperatures before entering. Seats will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. The concert will also be live-streamed at http://www.oc.edu/live.