2011 - 2012 Concert Series
David Higgs
Sunday, Oct 9 • 4:00 p.m.
One of America’s leading concert organists, David Higgs is also Chair of the Organ Department at the Eastman School of Music. He performs extensively throughout the United States and abroad, and has inaugurated many important new instruments including St. Stephan’s Cathedral, Vienna; the Meyerson Symphony Center, Dallas; St. Albans Cathedral, England; St. Canice’s Cathedral, Kilkenny, Ireland; and the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola in New York City. A native of New York City, Mr. Higgs held his first position as a church organist at age ten; as a teenager, he performed classical music as well as rock, gospel, and soul music. In addition to his significant performing career, Mr. Higgs has distinguished himself as a pedagogue.His students have won prizes in prestigious international competitions, and hold important positions in leading academic and religious institutions. Mr. Higgs has recorded for Delos International, Pro Organo, Arsis, Loft, and Gothic records.
Delilah Martineau
Sunday, Nov 13 • 4:00 p.m.
Delilah Martineau holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from William Carey College and a Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Mississippi. She has performed the lead roles in eleven operas and has been featured as soprano soloist in more than twenty masterworks including those of Saint-Saens, Brahms, Schubert, Bach, and Faure.
Derrick Meador
Sunday, Dec. 18 • 4:00 p.m.
Derrick Ian Meador, a native of Laurel, Mississippi, is Director of Music and Organist at First-Trinity Presbyterian Church. Mr. Meador returns to Laurel and First-Trinity Presbyterian after completing the class work for the Master of Music degree at the University of Houston. Following undergraduate study at William Carey University, he served as accompanist for the Alabama Choir School and organist at Christ Episcopal Church, Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Mr. Meador is an active recitalist who has studied with Robert H. Bates, Jeff R. McLelland and Kathy Vail.
4th Annual Gumbo Dinner with Larry Panella and Friends
Sunday, Jan 29 5:15 p.m. • Wine, Hors d'oeuvres & Silent Auction
6:00 p.m. • Dinner & Jazz
Mr. Larry Panella serves on the faculty of The University of Southern Mississippi as an associate professor of music and director of the jazz studies program and is the founder and leader of the USM Jazz Quartet (JQ). He has performed with numerous artists and entertainers, including the Phil Collins Big Band, the Woody Herman Orchestra, Natalie Cole, Steve Allen, Nelson Riddle and Frank Sinatra, Jr. His recordings include his newly released jazz quartet compact disc Under the Influence, two albums with the Collection Jazz Orchestra, two with the Ashley Alexander Big Band, and the recent compact disc release by the Phil Collins Big Band—A Hot Night in Paris. He received his master of music from Northern Illinois University and his bachelor of music from the University of North Texas, where he toured and performed as a member of the famed 1 o’clock Jazz Lab Band. Before his appointment at Southern Miss, Mr. Panella served on the faculty of Wheaton College Conservatory and Northern Illinois University School of Music.
Mississippi College Singers
James Meaders, conductor
Friday, Feb 10, 7:30 p.m.
The Mississippi College Singers is a mixed-voice, auditioned ensemble that is the premier choral group of the department of music. Presenting a diverse repertoire of accompanied and unaccompanied literature, this choir has performed throughout the United States and abroad, with recent concert engagements in England, Italy, and Slovenia.
Silent Film: "The General"
Walt Strony, organist
Friday, April 27 • 7:30 p.m.
Walt Strony is one of America's premier concert organists. He made his public debut in 1974 at the age of 18 and has since established himself as one of few organists equally at home playing both theatre and classical organ. Mr. Strony has performed hundreds of concerts from coast to coast in the United States as well as in Japan, Australia, England, and Canada. In addition, he has performed at many conventions of the American Theatre Organ Society and the American Guild of Organists. In July 2007 he performed the first solo organ recital to be presented in many years at New York's Radio City Music Hall for the American Theatre Organ Society's 2007 Convention. He is the only living organist to have been twice voted "Organist of the Year" by the American Theatre Organ Society - in 1991 and 1993. In 2011, he was inducted into the ATOS "Hall of Fame" - the youngest person currently in it.