Randye Jones and Marlys Grimm to Present "Glad Tidings"
Soprano Randye Jones and pianist Marlys Grimm will present "Glad Tidings," a program of music featuring selections from Handel's Messiah as well as traditional Christmas spirituals and other sacred songs on Friday, December 14th, at 7 p.m. at Herrick Chapel, Grinnell College, Grinnell, Iowa. Violinist Leah Meyer '15 will also perform that evening.
The program is free and open to the public.
In addition to Handel selections, the program will feature settings of spirituals by composers H. T. Burliegh, Roland Hayes, Margaret Bonds, Robert MacGimsey and Edward Boatner as well as songs by Pietro Yon, César Franck, and Adolphe Adam.
Jones holds her Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education from Bennett College, Greensboro, North Carolina, and her Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance from Florida State University, Tallahassee. She is currently a doctoral student in Vocal Literature at the University of Iowa, where she studies with Stephen Swanson. She has gained recognition for her research of and published writings on African American vocalists and composers and as a performer and lecturer through her project, The Art of the Negro Spiritual. Jones was recently selected to present a lecture-recital on using dialect in concert performance at the REAP National Conference on Spirituals in June 2013 and has presented at conferences such as the Phenomenon of Singing International Symposium VIII in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. She currently serves on the library staff at Grinnell College.
Marlys Grimm attended Sheldon High School and Central College, where she studied piano with Donald Gren. She has collaborated at Dordt, Northwestern, Grinnell, and Central Colleges in student and faculty recitals. Marlys has accompanied high school, college, community and professional singers, instrumentalists and choruses throughout Iowa and for National Association of Teachers of Singing competitions. With husband Norm conducting, she has played for numerous conference, district and regional choral festivals, including the 1993 Opus Boys Honor Choir. Grimm is currently the accompanist for the Grinnell Oratorio Society and staff accompanist at Central College and Newton High School. She is an avid cyclist and RAGBRAI veteran who enjoys spending time with family-Norm, their four children and spouses, and eight grandchildren.
Meyer has been playing the violin since she was seven-years-old and is currently concertmaster of the Grinnell Symphony Orchestra. Apart from playing classical music, she also enjoys playing old-time fiddle and rock n' roll with her friends and family.
For more information, call 641-821-0188 or visit www.randyejones.com.
