Clarke Chapel
8:00 p.m.
Free
| Lycoming College Presents Concert of New Music by Thayer and Lakey | |
| WILLIAMSPORT, PA—The
Lycoming College Chamber Choir and 15 vocal and instrumental guest
artists will perform recent compositions by Dr. Fred M. Thayer and
Mr. Richard J. Lakey on Saturday, October 27, at 8:00 p.m. in
Clarke Chapel. The concert is free and open to the public.
The concert will include three choral works by Thayer, director of choral music at Lycoming College, along with three choral works and one soprano solo by Lakey, director of music at St. Mark's Lutheran Church. Thayer’s pieces include The Cry of Anguish, The Nature of Things and Ave Maria. Lakey’s pieces include Te Deum, Spirit of God Descend Upon My Heart, The Humble Heart and a solo on Psalm 8.
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Guest artists include Olivia Leskowicz, Janice Miller, Frank Spencer, Paul McPhail (all Lycoming College voice teachers), as well as Julie Kinzey from Williamsport, Stephanie Linney from Princeton, Richard Kennedy from Penn State and Pedro d’Aquino from the Gregg Smith Singers. Lycoming College band director, Christopher Woodruff, will accompany the choir on trumpet along with Mitch Gabel, William Kenny on French horn, Brandon Stewart on trombone, Kevin Mickley on tuba, Andrew Rammon on cello and Richard Lakey on piano.
Thayer's composition The Cry of Anguish was inspired by an analysis of the 22 Psalm by Dr. Richard Hughes, the M.B. Rich Professor of Religion at Lycoming College. The Psalm, according to Hughes, can be considered a "Lament." Hughes will explain the construction of laments during the concert.
Dr. Thayer received bachelor’s degrees in sociology and music from Syracuse University and Ithaca College. Upon graduating from Ithaca College, he enrolled in the Peace Corps, where he established a vocal music program in the elementary schools of Pasto, Columbia. He received his master’s degree in composition from the State University of New York at Binghamton and a doctorate from Cornell University.
Thayer joined the faculty of Lycoming College as an assistant professor of music and Director of Choral Activities in 1976. Over the years he has led 25 spring break tours in every state east of the Mississippi River and California, as well as 8 overseas tours that have included concerts in Puerto Rico, Poland, The Czech Republic, Germany and Austria. While he is now a full professor, he has maintained an active schedule of composing and has received 18 ASCAP Standard Panel awards as well as numerous "Meet the Composer" grants.
Thayer’s compositions include a large scale five-part mass, two operas, three works for orchestra, two works for band, and more than 50 choral works. During the summer Thayer is the associate conductor of the Gregg Smith Singers at the Adirondack Festival of American Music in Saranac Lake, N.Y.
Mr. Lakey is currently Director of Music at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Williamsport. He is a graduate of Westminster Choir College in Princeton, N.J., where he received a Bachelor of Music Degree in Church Music. Lakey earned a Master of Music Education Degree at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Since moving to Williamsport, he has been a part-time instructor of piano and organ at Lycoming College and for the past 13 years has accompanied the Lycoming College Choir. The Lycoming College Choir, the Lycoming College Chamber Choir, as well as the Gregg Smith Singers have performed Lakey’s compositions, which include compositions based on the Te Deum and several settings of anthems.
