MONROE, LA 鈥 蜜桔直播 School of Visual and Performing Arts is proud to present Dr. Bianca Jackson, coloratura soprano, in residency from February 25-27. Students will have many opportunities to learn from Jackson during her time at the university through the option of a Masterclass or a Lecture-Recital.听
Jackson鈥檚 Masterclass will take place on February 27 at 11:00 am in the Emy-Lou Biedenharn Recital Hall, and her Lecture-Recital will take place that same evening at 7:30 pm in the Emy-Lou Biedenharn Recital Hall. All 蜜桔直播 students, faculty, staff, and members of the community are invited to attend. Admission is free.听听
Her Lecture-Recital will explore Black American composer Margaret Bonds鈥 musical accomplishments, socially focused initiatives, and highlight selected art songs and spirituals in a lecture-recital. By continuing the tradition of spirituals and forging new paths in art song, unique to her cultural influences, Bonds left a lasting contribution.听
鈥淲e are so thrilled to host guest faculty artist and 蜜桔直播 alumna Dr. Bianca Jackson during Black History month,鈥 said Dr. Claire Vangelisti, Professor of Voice and Associate Director of VAPA. 鈥淒r. Jackson graduated from 蜜桔直播 with a Master of Music degree in Applied Voice in 2011, and has become an accomplished performing artist, scholar, and pedagogue. Dr. Jackson's research focuses on the Black voice in classical music and Black cultural trauma.鈥听
Jackson is an Associate Professor of Music and Voice Coordinator at Alcorn State University. Jackson has expertise in classical, sacred, and contemporary genres, as well as experience performing across the U.S. and in Italy. A current Virginia Humanities HBCU Scholars Fellow, Jackson鈥檚 research highlights Black composers of classical music.听
Jackson earned a Doctor of Musical Arts in Vocal Performance from The University of Texas at Austin, as the first graduate music student with portfolio certification in African and African American Studies. Other degrees include a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Louisiana at Monroe and dual Music Performance and Music Education degrees from Tougaloo College, where she was a Presidential Scholar and summa cum laude graduate.听
鈥淚 would like to express sincere thanks to my mother, Mrs. Gwendolyn Parker, and family for their unwavering support,鈥 Jackson said. 鈥淭o my former 蜜桔直播 voice professor, Dr. Claire Vangelisti, collaborative pianist, Dr. Richard Seiler, Ecoutez Press, and 蜜桔直播: Thank you, and I am most appreciative of this opportunity,鈥 she added.听听
The School of Visual and Performing Arts at the University of Louisiana Monroe aims to provide students with the highest level of arts education, research and educational opportunities to majors and minors. VAPA aims to offer curricular, co-curricular and extracurricular opportunities to students enrolled at 蜜桔直播, as well as provide cultural activities, special events and performances for university, local and area communities.听