Akosua Achiah Adwini-Poku, Mezzo-Soprano

from the studio of Barbara Hill-Moore

In Collaboration with

Katia Dinas, piano

Braylon Hughes, cello

Sunday, April 27, 2025 6: 00 p.m.

O' Donnell Recital Hall

Southern Methodist University

Dallas, Texas

Program

La Lucrezia, HWV 145 George Frideric Handel

O numi eterni!...Gia superbo del mio afanno

Ma voi forse nel cielo…Il suo che preme

Ah! che ancor nell'abisso…Questi la disperata anima

A voi, a voi, padre, consorte…Gia nel seno comincia

Zigeunerlieder, Op. 103 Johannes Brahms

1. He, Zigeuner, greife in die Saiten ein!

2. Hochgetürmte Rimaflut

3. Wißt ihr, wann mein Kindchen

4. Lieber Gott, du weißt

5. Brauner Bursche führt zum Tanze

6. Röslein dreie in der Reihe

7. Kommt dir manchmal in den Sinn

8. Rote Abendwolken ziehn

Stride la Vampa! from Il Trovatore Giuseppe Verdi

Beside the Sea Florence Price

Four Encore Songs

1. Tobacco

2. A Flea and a Fly

3. "Come, come," said Tom's Father

4. Song of the Open Road

Eat the Rich Melissa Dunphy

This recital is given in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Performer's Diploma of Music in Voice

CAST OF CHARACTERS

NELL: Akosua Adwini-Poku

ARMELIA: Jasmine Williams

CHARLAINE: Sarah Elise Navy

KEN: J'Von Brown

ANDRE: Afika Gwam, Fri-Sun/ Anele Mutei, Thu-Sat

BARTENDER: Thandeka Masoka

FEATURE DANCERS

Alahna Atwater, Oceana Petrus, Aluncedo Mtsutsa, Mmangaliso Mtshali

ENSEMBLE MEMBERS

Alahna Atwater, Aluncedo Mtsutsa, Anathi Mnukwa, Caitlyn Blouw, Isabel Dlamini, Jungmin Lee, Kaye-Dee Martin, Khanya Nesi, Landon Ryden,

Lethabo Makuruetsa, Licebo Mose, Likho Mazaleni, Lindokuhle Gushu, Liyema Rose Ntanta, Loyiso Lloyds Gongota, Mmangaliso Mtshali, Mpumelelo Masuku, Nikho Voyi, Ntombozuko Sizani, Oceana Petrus, Raquel Fernandez, Samukelisiwe Nkutha, Sinentlahla Ndala, Thandeka Masoka, Tricia Tsang, Zama Mdlalose, Zizipho Mbaliso, Zukhanye Ham

Professor Barbara Hill-Moore, H.D.F.A., Producer and Music Director

Alvon Reed, Stage Director and Choreographer

Robert Jason Smith, Vocal Coach and Associate Music Director

Njabulo Mthimkhulu, Associate Producer and Chorus Master

BAND MEMBERS

Jason Smith, Piano and Director, Instrumental Ensemble

Leighlin Burts, Flute

Cirston Welman, Alto Saxophone

Joseph Mukundi, Bass

Vuyolwethu Camngca, Drums

Hanlie Young, Keyboard

TECHNICAL SUPPORT

Danyke de Beer, Stage Manager and Lighting Technician

Karim Faraj, Assistant Stage Manager

Tricia Tsang, Assistant to the Director

Kunako Goduka, Prop Manager

Lwazi Mjitela, Assistant Prop Manager

Raquel Fernandez, Make-Up and Wardrobe Mistress

Landon Ryden, Wardrobe Master

Carol Burts, Wardrobe Seamstress

Enock Mkeys Mtileni, Live Streaming Engineer

COSTUMES

Rose Cowpar and the Savoy Theatre, Southern Methodist University's Division of Dance

THIS PRODUCTION IS A MUSICAL COLLABORATION BETWEEN NELSON MANDELA UNIVERSITY MUSIC DEPARTMENT (GQEBERHA, SOUTH AFRICA) AND SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY (DALLAS, TEXAS, USA) 2024 STUDY ABROAD PARTICIPANTS

Va! laisse couler mes larmes, Werther - Charlotte

Jules Massenet

Lullaby, The Consul

Gian Carlo Menotti

Dr. Michiko Otaki, piano

Kayla Hart, soprano

Matthew Milfort, countertenor

I. Sorcery

II. From The Ashes She Became

III. You Have Become a Forest

IV. Me Too

Lecture Recital Presented on April 19, 2022

Spivey Hall, Morrow GA

Dr. Michiko Otaki, Piano

Program:

Florence Price (1887-1953)

Out of the South Blew a Wind (1946), Poetry by Fannie Carter Woods

Song to the Dark Virgin (1941), Poetry by Langston Hughes

Sympathy (Undated, est. 1930-1953), Poetry by Paul Laurence Dunbar

Rosephanye Powell (b. 1962)

From Miss Wheatley’s Garden (2015):

I Want to Die While You Love Me, Poetry by Georgia Douglas Johnson

A Winter Twilight, Poetry by Angelina Grimké

From Then, Here and Now (2020):

Dying, Text based on Negro Spiritual

Melissa Dunphy (b. 1980)

From Four Poems of Nikita Gill (2018):

I. Sorcery

II. From the Ashes She Became

III. You Have Become a Forest

Price, Powell & Dunphy - Women Composing in Color - Program & Transcript

Grant Jones, Piano

Grant Jones, Piano

Grant Jones, Piano

Grant Jones, Piano

Spivey Hall, Morrow GA

Grant Jones, Piano

Grant Jones, Piano