Guest Tenor, Pianist play CAC

The Creative Arts Center will host Tenor Richard Kosowski and pianist Russell Young for a Guest Artist Recital at 7:30 p.m. in the Bloch Learning and Performance Hall.

This event is free and open to the public.

There will also be a master class taught by Richard Kosowski in the Salvo Theater in the CAC at 4 p.m. Friday.

"They are both mentors of mine and very dear friends," said Nick Perna, associate professor of Voice at West Virginia University.

Perna also noted that this will be Kosowski and Young's first visit to WVU.

Perna performed in Macon, Ga., with a master class as well, and this is done as part of an exchange, according to Kosowki.

Kosowski is currently a faculty member at Mercer University, Townsend School of Music in Macon.

He teaches diction, voice, vocal techniques, music appreciation and directs scene programs for Mercer University Opera.

He served as an affiliate artist with the University of Houston's Moores School of Music, where he received his doctorate, and also served on the voice faculty of University of Miami's Frost School of Music, where he received his master's.

In addition, he has performed in the Berkshire Choral festival in Sheffield, Mass., for several seasons.

Young is an associate professor of opera and musical theater at Kennesaw State University in Marietta, Ga.

He received a bachelor's degree from Baylor University and a master's degree from the University of Louisiana-Monroe.

He also holds a doctorate from the University of Miami.

Young has received a Gramma Fisher Fellowship and has worked at Western Opera Theater in San Francisco and the Stadtstheater in Darmstadt, Germany. He is associated with the Florida Grand Opera and Gold Coast Opera companies.

The featured songs are Dominick Argento's "Letters From Composers" and John Duke's "Four Poems by Emily Dickinson."

"The Argento is a beautiful song, rarely heard and gives insight to the composer. The Duke has a 20th-century feel, melodic and very accessible. It is a nice contrast to the Argento," Kosowski said.

For more information, contact the College of Creative Arts at 304-293-4359 or visit them at www.ccarts.wvu.edu.