TGIF, May 15, 5:30pm

At our concert this Friday Dr. Marie Bird (mezzo-soprano) and Kayla Liechty(piano) perform a cabaret song recital with songs from Erik Satie, Kurt Weill Friedrich Hollaender, Madeleine Dring, and William Bolcom. Doors to the sanctuary open at 5:15pm and the concert begins at 5:30pm. The concert is free with donations accepted.

Program

Tendrement by Erik Satie (1866–1925)
La Diva de L’Empire
Je te veux

Klops-Lied by Kurt Weill (1900–1950)
Der Abschiedsbrief
Berlin im Licht

Lass mich einmal deine Carmen sein from Einbrecher by Friedrich Hollaender (1896–1976)
Ich bin von Kopf bis Fuss from Der Blaue Engel
Die Kleptomanin from Spuk in der Villa Stern

I’ve Brought You Away by Madeleine Dring (1923–1977)23

Amor from Cabaret Songs by William Bolcom (b. 1938)

 

Artists

Dr. Marie Bird  (mezzo-soprano)

Mezzo-soprano Dr. Marie Bird is hailed for her energized performing, teaching, and mindfulness for musicians research. Dr. Bird currently serves as Voice Area Coordinator and Assistant Professor of Voice at Eastern New Mexico University. She has performed with such companies as the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra, Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, Taos Opera Institute, Amarillo Opera, Red River Lyric Opera, Seagle Music Festival, and the Orvieto Musica Festival in Italy. Some of her most noteworthy roles have been Prince Orlofsky in Johann Strauss’ Die Fledermaus and the Witch in Sondheim’s Into The Woods. Dr. Bird is an advocate for both classical and nonclassical vocal styles. She and her students maintain active performance schedules in which they perform opera, cabaret, art song, musical theater, jazz, and country vocal repertoire throughout the New Mexico and West Texas regions. Dr. Bird is also an active member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS). She was selected as an Artist Series Presenter for the Regional TEXOMA NATS Conference in 2023 and a Poster Presenter at the National NATS Conference in 2024. Many of her students have also placed in both classical and musical theatre NATS competition categories over the past three years. Dr. Bird holds degrees in vocal performance from Texas Tech University (DMA), the University of Alabama (MM), and Florida State University (BM).

Kayla Liechty (Pianist)

Pianist Kayla Liechty currently serves as Vocal Coach and Collaborative Pianist at Eastern New Mexico University. Ms. Liechty has collaborated with some of the finest musicians of our time, including Marilyn Horne, Sherrill Milnes, Jennifer Larmore, Martina Arroyo, Leona Mitchell, and Fred King. She has accompanied choirs for five performances in Carnegie Hall, China, Newfoundland, Norway, and throughout Europe, spending two seasons as pianist for the Santa Fe Desert Chorale. Ms. Liechty served a decade as a vocal coach and pianist for the Sherrill Milnes summer opera workshop, VOICExperience, and was National Auditions Pianist for Walt Disney World Entertainment. In the area of scholarly and artistic endeavors, Ms. Liechty’s contributions include Bach to Bix, a CD collaboration with tubist Ted Cox, The French Connection, a CD collaboration with hornist Eldon Matlick and an 80