Caldwell Fine Arts Past Performances

One of the 40th Anniversary events of Caldwell Fine Arts will be presented April 4, 7:30 pm, in Jewett Auditorium on the campus of Albertson College of Idaho. Tickets are $8-12 for adults and $6-10 for students and available through Select-a-Seat, the door, or by calling 454-1376. The program recognizes four Idaho-raised alumni musicians from Albertson College whose professional careers have taken them across the United States and Europe.

Velma Guyer, soprano, graduated from Twin Falls High School and Albertson College. She earned

a Masters of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Cincinnati Conservatory. She went to Europe and was a soloist at the Bonn Opera Company. She is interested in music by women composers and performs often in Europe. Velma is married to a Swiss citizen, Daniel Blaser. They have one son and reside in Renens, Switzerland.

Susanne Skyrm began piano study with her parents, the late Richard Skyrm

and Jeanne Hayman. She received a B.A. with honors from Albertson College where she studied with Fern Nolte Davidson. She earned a masters from the University of Cincinnati Conservatory and a doctorate from the University of Colorado at Boulder.. She has studied in Italy and Spain. She is a professor of Music at the University of South Dakota at Vermillion, which is the home to America's Shrine to Music Museum, a world-renowned collection of over 10,000 musical instruments. She has given numerous recitals and recorded 2 CDs playing a rare 1767 Portuguese fortepiano and an 1815 Viennese grand piano. This is her third appearance in the Caldwell Fine Arts Series.

Ray Gabbard, tenor, comes from one of Caldwell's musical dynasties. His father, the late Jim Gabbard, was the Albertson College of Idaho choir director for 20 years. His mother, Virginia, was an elementary music specialist in the Caldwell schools until her retirement. Ray's 2 sisters and 2 brothers play string instruments. Katy Green and Gini Rosandick are both Ray Gabbard

string teachers in the Caldwell schools. The brothers participate in various musical ensembles. Ray's career began in Caldwell High School productions and continued through graduation at Albertson College. He received his Master in Vocal Performance at Arizona State in 1992. One segment of his career was spent in Gilbert and Sullivan operettas in New York City, Charlotte, Denver, and Boise. He had lead roles in Big River, Die Fledermaus, Carousel, Kiss Me Kate, Guys and Dolls, and Fantasticks across the United States. He was Raoul in the Phantom of the Opera, the German version in Hamburg, Germany, for 4 years and currently in the touring production in the States. He met his English-born wife, Jacqueline, a dancer, in the cast of Phantom in Germany. They have a daughter, Amelia, and two dogs and reside outside of London.

Sean Rogers, a local resident from Ontario, OR, is currently Director of Music and Worship at First

Presbyterian Church in Boise. He has been there for 4 years. He also works as a music coach/accompanist for opera singers and instrumentalists. His accompanying and performance skills have taken him throughout the United States, England, and Europe. He is currently in his 6th year as Vice President/Music Director for Musical Theatre of Idaho where he directs and helps produce music theatre productions. Sean just finished his second CD of keyboard improvisations and is currently at work on his 3rd CD that will feature selections on the pipe organ. Mr. Rogers has a B.A. in Sacred Music, Organ Performance, Religion and Piano Performance at Albertson College.

The program will include arts songs, music theatre, piano and organ solos. A special feature of the evening will be an art display by Dan Looney, the Founding President of the Idaho Watercolor Society. Although he is an investment banker, he is an accomplished painter in watercolor, acrylic, and torn paper collages. His work reflects a focus on Nature's moods and beauty. His work is in many private collections and has been chosen for the St. Luke's Christmas Card Collection. He will be able to sign prints of the "ACI Spring Walk" which was a featured work in a recent Albertson College Scholarship Auction. The public may view the display at 6:15 in the Langroise Foyer and join all the artists in a reception following the concert.

.

Idaho Showcase