Songs That Inspire: A Vocal-Organ Duo Recital

Stacey Brett Davern, soprano and Chatham University Music Faculty, and Dr. Bradley Fitch, organist/pianist at Grove City College and Christ United Methodist Church, present a vocal-organ duo recital featuring composer greats of song and the organ.

PROGRAM:

Laudate Pueri I. Laudate Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)

Prelude and Fugue in D major, BWV 532. II J. S. Bach (1685-1750)

An Chloe, K.524 W. A. Mozart (1756-1791)

Exsultate, jubilate 4. Alleluia, K.165 W. A. Mozart (1756-1791)

Au bord de l'eau, Op. 8 No. 1 Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924)

Cinq Mélodies de Venise 1. Mandoline, Op. 58 Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924)

Carillon de Westminster, Op. 54 No.6 Louis Vierne (1870-1937)

"Christmas Lullaby" from Songs for a New World Jason Robert Brown (b. 1970)


ABOUT THE PERFORMERS:

Stacey Brett Davern is a Vocalist (Soprano) and Music Educator. She received an M.M. in Vocal Performance from Duquesne University, and a B.M.E. in Music Education and Vocal Performance from West Virginia Wesleyan College. She is a certified Pennsylvania Music Educator and has previously served on the Vocal Faculty for Point Park University, Point Park Summer Dance, and West Virginia Wesleyan College. Ms. Davern has been featured as guest conductor for PMEA District Chorus and an adjudicator for WVACDA High School Honors Choir. She has also worked with the Larry Parsons Chorale and the Chanticleer Children's Chorus of West Virginia. As a faculty member at Chatham University, Ms. Davern is the Director of Choral Activities, and on the Voice Faculty; throughout her career, she has also taught Musical Theater, Voice for Music Educators, Elementary Music/Choir K-8, and has served as a Student Teacher Supervisor. Ms. Davern has performed with Pittsburgh Opera, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Pittsburgh Musical Theater, and The Opera Theatre of Pittsburgh; She has also studied in Italy with the Ezio Pinza Council for American Singers of Opera (EPCASO), and continues to perform as a soloist and recitalist throughout the Pittsburgh area.

Bradley Fitch serves Christ Church as Organist and Director of Worship, where he oversees the Traditional Worship Service, accompanies the congregation and choirs, and sits on various committees around the church. In addition to his ministry at Christ Church, he is also the College Organist at Grove City College, where he teaches lessons, accompanies the Concert Choir, and provides organ accompaniment for chapel services and events. He performs nationally as a soloist and accompanist, and gives lectures and presentations on organ building and design, organ repertoire, and sacred music at universities and churches.
A native of Coitsville, Oh, he began working in sacred music as a teenager, and has served churches across Ohio, Indiana, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania as both organist and music director. He holds degrees from Oberlin College, Indiana University, and the American Organ Institute at the University of Oklahoma, and has had the privilege to study with many wonderful teachers including Larry Harris, David Boe, Larry Smith, John Schwandt, and Lisa Crawford.
When not playing the organ, you can find him around the church drinking coffee, hanging out with the retired men, or fussing with banners and candles in the sanctuary. He also have an enormous sweet tooth and has yet to meet a dessert he doesn't like.

Recital