Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Mary Smith, left, and Katie Warner have been busy rehearsing for the Friday night recital. Those who appreciate opera might enjoy the special concert.
If you love the arts and you have an appreciation for opera, this Friday night's performance on the campus of Northeastern Junior College is one you will not want to miss. Kimball native Katie Warner will be presenting a nine song recital and is sure to make your spring.
A library technician at Northeastern, Warner, originally from Kimball, will leave Northeastern later this year to pursue a masters in music at the University of Northern Colorado (UNC). She will be receiving her advanced degree in vocal performance-opera.
She just recently was made aware that she has received a graduate assistantship at UNC to pursue her passion for opera. She did her undergraduate studies at Wayne State University in Nebraska.
Katie will perform in her exclusive recital at 7 p.m. Friday, April 24, in the Tennant Art Gallery inside Hays Student Center. It is a beautiful setting and easily accessible from the east entrance of the building.
Katie performed several opera numbers last year during the college's winter vocal recital. Those who heard her sing were simply amazed at what an accomplished vocalist she is a rare talent here in this area. Since then, she did a solo performance and also conducted with the Master Chorale's annual Noel performance held last December.
"I've done quite a few recitals over the years," Warner said, "but, this is my first public recital where I am the only one performing." She will deliver nine selections including two Puccini numbers. All of the songs are sung in foreign language with the exception of one.
Warner does not speak any foreign languages fluently, but says that it is amazing how quickly you can learn the language when you are singing it.
Warner's love for music, she says, can be attributed to her mother. "My mom loves music and she exposed me to a lot of it from a very early age," she said, adding "my mom taught me the love of singing, and I taught her how to do it right." She grins mischievously, noting that she and her mom have some inside humor about singing and singing well. Katie is the daughter of Allen and Anna Hansen of Kimball.
Katie, who now lives in Peetz, has been teaching some private voice lessons. She will be accompanied by Mary Smith, an adjunct instructor at Northeastern and very accomplished pianist.
The cost of the recital, to the general public, is $2 per person. Proceeds are being placed in the piano tuning fund.