Local duo to present baritone recital

James K. Richardson
James K. RichardsonShannon Kiser
Shannon Kiser

Two musicians who grew up together, attended the same schools and recently relocated to the Harrisonburg area will join in presenting a baritone recital of arias, duets and part-songs.

James K. Richardson, assistant professor of music at EMU, and Shannon Kiser, director of music ministries at First Presbyterian Church, Court Square, will perform together 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Apr. 21, in Martin Chapel of the seminary building at EMU.

Richardson and Kiser will present a varied repertoire ranging from the Middle Ages to Broadway musicals to works by Telemann, Handel, Mozart, Mendelssohn and Vaughn Williams. Most of the program will consist of duets with a few solo numbers.

Richardson and Kiser are both Shenandoah Valley natives, graduates of Eastern Mennonite High School and lifelong friends. They earned BS degrees in vocal performance from Covenant College, Lookout Mountain, Ga., and received master of music degrees in vocal performance from the Peabody Conservatory of Music of the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.

Kiser is a frequent soloist with the Shenandoah Valley Choral Society and directs the "Rocktown Consort," a new community chamber choir. Both Kiser and Richardson have had numerous roles in operas, oratorios and other concerts, but singing together in the EMU recital will be a "first" for the two musicians.

Admission to the recital is free; donations are welcomed for the EMU music student scholarship fund.