CLEVELAND, Miss. — Delta State University’s Department of Music is proud to announce a faculty recital featuring flutist Dr. Shelley Collins and pianist Dr. Kumiko Shimizu. The recital is scheduled to take place on Monday, April 1, at 7:30 p.m. in the Recital Hall at the Bologna Performing Arts Center.
Collins and Shimizu, both Professors of Music, will enthrall audiences with a diverse repertoire showcasing works by renowned composers including Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, John Rutter, Ralph Vaughan Williams, and a special focus on the works of William Grant Still.
“William Grant Still, known as the ‘Dean of African American Composers,’ left an indelible mark on the landscape of classical music,” said Collins. “His contributions are numerous and groundbreaking, with a legacy marked by numerous ‘firsts’ in the industry.”
Born in Woodville, Mississippi, and raised in Little Rock, Arkansas, Still’s journey in music led him to study at Oberlin and work alongside W. C. Handy in Memphis and Harlem. His Afro-American Symphony was a milestone, being the first symphony by an African American composer to be performed by a major United States orchestra. Additionally, his opera was the first by an African American composer to be performed by a major opera company and broadcast on television. Still also holds the distinction of being the first African American conductor to direct a major symphony orchestra.
The recital will feature two of Still’s works, “Mother and Child” and “Gamin,” both inspired by the visual arts of the Harlem Renaissance, offering audiences a glimpse into the rich tapestry of African American musical heritage.
The event is open to the public, and admission is free of charge. For further information, please contact the Department of Music at 662-846-4615.
