'Her Voice' Concert Presented by Oboist Theresa Delaplain for SHE Festival

Theresa Delaplain, professor of oboe, will present a concert as part of the SHE Festival of Women in Music called "Her Voice." The collaborative concert will be at 7:30 p.m. March 14 in the Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall. The event is free and open to the public.

The concert includes music written by women and music about women, including works by Julianna Hall, Alyssa Morris, Madelaine Dring, and a multi-media presentation of a work for oboe, pre-recorded sounds, digital delay, and visual projection. A world premiere of "Her Voice" for oboe d'amore and piano by UAMusic composer and professor, Robert Mueller will take center stage. The premiere features the unique "voice" of the oboe d'amore, a member of the oboe family with a slightly lower range. Mueller says of the piece:

"Imagine the voice of a young mother telling her infant child "Everything is going to be all right," "Mother is here, you can go to sleep now." But the world is a confusing place and the child takes some convincing before finally drifting off to sleep. There may even be anxious moments where peace and quiet seem a world away, but the soothing voice of the mother keeps returning to comfort the child in a way that no other voice can. Perhaps many of us now feel the same confusion about the storms of life and we think of our own mothers, and long to hear 'Her Voice.'"

Joining Delaplain for the concert are Miroslava Panayotova (piano), Hyun Kim (piano), Ronda Mains (flute), Moon-Sook Park (soprano), Lia Uribe (bassoon), and Robert Mueller (piano).

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

In conjunction with Women's History Month, the Department of Music in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences will host an inaugural, month-long festival throughout March highlighting the major role that women have played in the art of music.

SHE, A Festival of Women in Music will recognize women across the field with an array of music featuring women composers and performers.

"Music often breaks down the barriers that separate us," said Ronda Mains, the Department of Music's chair.

Mains said that in a time when society often strains to listen, "SHE makes room for audiences to hear new sounds, to feature composers of fame and lesser-known stature, and to amplify exceptional stories — all drawing attention to compositions by women, works inspired by women, and music for women."

Mains said that SHE also crosses borders, intends to evoke an emotional response, and will prompt historical and cultural memories for all who attend.

With guest lectures, performances of Western art music and contemporary music, and a one-woman play, the festival is filled with events that will spur thought and excite audiences.

SHE is sponsored by Adventure Subaru of Fayetteville and presented in partnership with the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences Humanities Program, the Jim and Joyce Faulkner Performing Arts Center, and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Arkansas.

More information about this event can be found on the Department of Music's website.