Music with a Sense of Humor as Series Finale

The Orchestra of Southern Utah presents the final recital of its Ninth Annual Recital Series on Tuesday, Oct. 11, at 7:30 P.M., in St. Jude’s Episcopal Church, 70 North 200 West in Cedar City.

Musical jokes are the highlight of the evening. “Sometimes music is serious, but definitely not for this recital. We’ll have balloons popping, sopranos meowing, and a violinist who can Hula Hoop,” says Sara Penny, recital director. “It’ll be an entertaining way to end our recital series.”

Ken and Sandy Hedgecock perform “Lassus Trombone” by Fillmore, a favorite Ragtime piece for trombone and piano. Their madrigal group, Cedar City Musica Antiqua, which also includes Angela Hedgecock, Gina Ginouves, and Deborah Martineau, will perform PDQ Bach’s “The Queen to Me a Royal Pain Doth Give” and “My Bonnie Lass She Smelleth.” According to the group, they have “performed extensively along Interstate 15, south of Enoch and north of Hamilton Fort, in an effort to resurrect and show the incredible lack of talent of PDQ Bach to serious musicians everywhere.”

The “Balloon Pop Polka” by Ruth Ellingen will open the evening, performed by piano students Tanner McGuire, Kyle Stewart, Hayden Bishop, and Ethan Nickerson. These pianists are all students of local piano teacher Kristina McGuire.

The mother-daughter duo of Becky Moore and Brenna Halversen bring their love of Girl Scouts to the stage by performing “Campy Camp Songs.” Becky has sung as a soloist with the Messiah, has performed in musicals such as “Godspell,” and is very active with her local Girl Scout troop.

Brother and sister, Nathan and Catherine Hofeling, will share their rendition of the timeless tune, “Chopsticks.” They both study piano with LuAnn Keate.

Performing “Millionaire’s Hoedown,” Jenna Miller will show true talent by playing the violin while Hula Hooping. This talented musician also plays the harp and viola.

Singer Marlo Ihler will give her tribute to some truly creative foods with the song “Lime Jello Marshmallow Cottage Cheese Surprise,” accompanied by Todd Seipert on piano.

Percussionist Patrick Roulet, accompanied on piano by his wife Rachel, will do Kabalevky’s “Comedian Gallop” on the xylophone. Patrick is the percussion professor at SUU. Rachel is an accomplish pianist and accompanist.

It’s all about two cats singing opera in the final number of the evening. Sopranos Carol Ann Modesitt and Grace St. Pierre meow their way through Rossini’s “Duetto Buffo di Due Gatti.” Carol Ann serves as the SUU Music Department chairman, associate professor of voice, and director of opera. Grace also teaches voice at SUU and conducts the SUU Concert Choir and OPUS Chamber

Choir, and conducts OSU’s newly-formed community choir, the Festival City Community Chorale, which will sing the Messiah this year.

Suggested donation for the recital is $5 for adults and $3 for students. For further information, visit www.orchestraofsouthernutah.org or contact OSU Manager, Marlo Ihler, at 867-8501.

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