Month: October 2021

School of Music Welcomes Alumna Caitlin Moore, Mezzo-Soprano

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Join mezzo-soprano Caitlin Moore and the Lee University School of Music faculty performers of the Performing Arts Series on Monday, October 25th and Tuesday, October 26th for a two-day event featuring a diverse recital program and social media marketing session.

A 2012 Lee University School of Music vocal performance graduate, Caitlin Moore is a vocal performer, vocal pedagogue, professor of higher education, and is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Arts in voice performance with a secondary in voice pedagogy at the University of Northern Colorado. Caitlin has appeared on stage in both operatic and recital contexts, regularly delivers masterclasses and workshops, and keeps an ongoing private studio delivered in-person and virtually. Upcoming engagements include Fiona in Brigadoon with Loveland Opera Theatre and La bergère, La chatte, and L’écureuil in L’Enfant et les sortilèges with Boulder Opera Company.

The recital on Monday, October 25th is ticked, but free of charge. The social media marketing session on Tuesday, October 26th is not ticketed and is free of charge. Tickets can be reserved at here.

School of Music Student to Premiere New Composition

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The Lee Trio will present its fall concert on October 18th at 7:30pm in Squires Recital Hall. The trio was formed in 2017 by School of Music faculty members who desire cross-cultural unity through music and who serve as artistic ambassadors for music between the United States and Asia. Presenting in this season’s trio will be Xiaoqing Yu, violin; Theodore Kartal, cello; and Muen Wei, piano.

The trio’s upcoming concert includes a uniquely commissioned piece entitled “Behind the Mask” composed by senior music major Noah Constance. The composition was written to reflect the tumultuous aspects of the Coronavirus pandemic over the past year and a half. “At times it is fearful, and at other times it is hopeful for a better future, a light at the end of the tunnel,” explained Constance. “The piece is a ‘back and forth’ of these ideas, ending with uncertainty, like a question of ‘what’s going to happen next?'” The various facets of the past year have undoubtedly inspired artists of all enthusiasms toward new creations in the wake of the difficulty that the world has come through.

The Lee University School of Music is proud to premiere new works by both faculty and students on campus on an ongoing basis, and encourages creativity and collaboration. “Noah is a gifted and talented student, and we are thrilled to share this terrific new composition with the community,” stated Mr. Xiaoqing Yu, Lee violin professor and Lee Trio member, in a recent press release. The Lee University School of Music offers an emphasis in composition at both the undergraduate and graduate levels for students who are interested in pursuing music composition at a higher level.

The Lee Trio concert is free, non-ticketed, and is open to the public. This event will also be available via Livestream.

Hilltop Worship releases Elevation cover “Available”

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Hilltop Worship, a small worship group from the Ladies of Lee, has released their first single, a cover of the well-known Elevation Worship song “Available” now streaming on all platforms, including iTunes, Spotify, and Amazon. “This song has become an anthem within Hilltop Worship’s repertoire and we are excited to debut our version of this song as our first project,” Hilltop Worship testified in a recent social media post promoting the project. “We pray this song blesses you and reminds you that you are a vessel to advance the kingdom of God! Soli deo Gloria!”

Visit Hilltop Worship on Facebook and be sure to follow the Ladies of Lee along with our other ensembles as they embark on their first choir tours in a year and a half!

October Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Cameron Weatherford

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Meet our first faculty spotlight of the year! We are delighted to introduce Dr. Cameron Weatherford, our new Assistant Professor of Choral Music. Dr. Weatherford completed his Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of Kentucky and comes to us from Louisiana College. He conducts Choral Union and Men’s Chorus, as well as teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in conducting.

We asked him a few questions, which we’ll share throughout the month! To begin, we asked him to tell us a little bit about his journey in music.

“I grew up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and spent most of my professional life there until coming to Lee. I knew from a young age that the Lord was calling me to be a musician in some way and for years, I believed it was to work in studio/music production. About halfway through my undergraduate degree at Louisiana College, I received an opportunity to serve as the student conductor for our primary choral ensemble, which at the time, I had no interest in doing. Shortly after, I quickly realized that Choral Music Education was the call on my life and I have pursued and worked in that field ever since. Upon graduating from Louisiana College with a B.M. in Church Music, I moved to Hattiesburg, Mississippi where I completed my M.M. in Choral Conducting from the University of Southern Mississippi. After this, I taught high school at Alexandria Senior High School in Louisiana for four years. Once I left there, my wife Caroline and I moved to Lexington, Kentucky where I worked on my D.M.A. in Choral Conducting from the University of Kentucky. I recently taught at my alma mater, Louisiana College for four years, prior to coming to serve here at Lee!”

Thanks for sharing, Dr. Weatherford! We’re so glad you’re here.