The Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony Orchestra will perform Wednesday, March 9 at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall. Dr. Douglas Bakenhus is musical director of the orchestra. Tickets are $10. Northwestern State University, BPCC@NSU and Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts students are admitted free with a current student I.D.
The concert will feature winners of the NSU Concerto/Aria Competition. This year’s winners are The Millennium Horn Quartet, Brandon Garrison of San Antonio, Texas, Joshua Waldrop of Benton, Blayne Fugere of Dallas, Texas, and Laura Chicarello of Londonderry, New Hampshire, sopranos Leanny Munoz of Abbeville and Juliana Handy of Coushatta and Fernando Zuniga of Duncanville, Texas, on euphonium.
The program is “Concert Piece for 4 Horns” by Robert Schumann featuring the Millenium Horn Quartet, “Quando m’en vo” from “La Boheme” by Puccini featuring Munoz, “Regnava nel silenzio” from “Lucia di Lammermoor” by Gaetano Donizetti featuring Handy and “Concertino Op. 4” by Ferdinand David featuring Zuniga. The orchestra will also play “Overture” to “Ruslan and Ludmilla” by Mikhail Glinka and Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 1.”
The Millennium Horn Quartet was founded last spring. The ensemble was a finalist in the 2015 Southeast Horn Workshop’s quartet competition and performed in a recital tour at the University of Southern Mississippi last October. The quartet has also performed in a chamber masterclass for the Boston Brass. Chicarello holds a master’s degree in performance from Northwestern State University and a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from University of New Hampshire. Garrison will receive his bachelor’s degree in music education in May. Waldrop will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in performance in May along with an associate’s degree from Bossier Parish Community College. Fugere will receive his bachelor’s degree in performance in 2017.
Muñoz is a senior vocalist majoring in liberal arts with a concentration in fine and performing arts in the Louisiana Scholar’s College. She is interested in studying musicology and furthering her vocal training in graduate school. Munoz has been admitted to Louisiana State University’s Master of Music program, where she will major in musicology. She has sung with the Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony during Natchitoches’s Tri-Centennial Symphony Gala and Extravaganza. Later this semester, she will perform with the Northwestern Opera Theater Ensemble in Mozart’s “Magic Flute” as Pamina on April 8 and 10 and end her semester with a senior recital on April 30.
Handy has been featured as the leading role in “Gallantry,” “The Old Maid and the Thief” and “The Impresario” with Opera Louisiana College. She won the Tri-State National Association of Teachers in Singing Competition in Fall 2010 and is a two-time holder of the ALSUP Vocal Award given at Louisiana College. She has also been featured as a soprano soloist with the Louisiana College Chorale and Northwestern State University Chamber Choir. Handy earned a bachelors of music from Louisiana College and is pursuing her Masters of Music at Northwestern State studying with Terrie Sanders. She will appear as the Queen of the Night in the Spring 2016 production of “Die Zauberflote;” by Northwestern State’s Opera Theatre Ensemble under the direction of Stefan Gordon and Michelle Lange.
Zuniga is studying euphonium under Dr. Masahito Kuroda. He was the first prize winner of the First National Kappa Kappa Psi Wind Solo Competition in 2015 in Lexington, Kentucky and was selected as a member of the National Intercollegiate Band 2015. Zuniga was a recipient of McCutcheon Honor Award in 2013 and 2014. He was also an alternate semi-finalist to the International Falcone Euphonium Competition Student Division 2014. Zuniga is a member of NSU Wind Symphony, NSU Euphonium-Tuba Ensemble and the Spirit of Northwestern Marching Band.