Ouachita Baptist University senior Bethany Swiontek will perform her senior musical theatre recital on May 2 at 8 p.m. in Mabee Fine Art Center’s McBeth Recital Hall.
“I hope the audience leaves having experienced a wide range of music and emotions that portray both sorrow and struggle as well as joy and laughter,” said Swiontek, a native of Colorado Springs, Colo. She is a student of Dr. Margaret Garret, assistant professor of music, and Daniel Inouye, assistant professor of theatre arts.
Swiontek has earned first place awards at both state and regional National Association of Teachers of Singing auditions, recently earned first place at the Trinity Presents Collegiate Performance Showcase and an encouragement award at the Arkansas District Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions. She has been active on the Ouachita stage, playing the lead role of Dolly Levi in OBU’s production of Hello, Dolly!, the Gingerbread Witch in the opera Hansel and Gretel and Janet Van de Graff in The Drowsy Chaperone.
Her recital will be divided into classical music and theatrical performances to demonstrate Swiontek’s talent in both areas.
The classical portion of her recital will include: Henry Purcell’s “We Sing to Him” from Harmonia Sacra, W.A. Mozart’s “Als Luise die Briefe” and “Der Zauberer,” Giocomo Meyerbeer’s “Oh, Robert, Robert” from Robert Le Diable, William Bolcolm’s “Amor,” Richard Pearson Thomas’ “I Never Saw a Moor” and “I’m Gonna Sail Away” and “Qui La Voce” from Vincenzo Bellini’s opera I Puritani.
“Many of the classical pieces are not only challenging, but very captivating as they are filled with powerful emotion heightened by beautiful piano accompaniment,” Swiontek said. “My musical theatre choices changed multiple times, but I am very pleased with the final outcome of this selection.”
The musical theatre portion of Swiontek’s recital will include: David Yazbek’s “Model Behavior” from Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, Richard Rodgers’ “Sing for Your Supper” from The Boys from Syracuse, a scene from A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams, Frank Wildhorn’s “In His Eyes” from Jekyll & Hyde, a scene from The Queen of Bingo by Jeanne Michels and Phyllis Murphy and Jerry Jerman’s “Bosom Buddies” from Mame.
“My time here at Ouachita has been some of the most wonderful and challenging four years of my life,” Swiontek said. “I could not feel more prepared or excited for the future and will always be so very grateful to my Ouachita family and know I will always have them no matter where I go or what I do.”
The recital is free and open to the public. For more information, contact OBU’s School of Fine Arts at (870) 245-5129.
