Dr. Judy Marlett, NNU’s Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities and Professor of Music, recently performed in New York at Carnegie Hall. Her performance singing the mezzo-soprano solos in the oratorio A Family Portrait was significant for her as the oratorio uses letters from three generations of her family, beginning with her great-great grandfather’s Civil War letters and including letters from her great grandmother and her grandfather.
“This was an amazing opportunity to perform with dear friends and share my family’s stories and history. Walking onto a stage where so many historic concerts have been held, where Leonard Bernstein had his conducting debut, was truly inspiring,” Dr. Marlett said. “Singing [in Carnegie Hall] is something I will never forget.”
Debra Lynn, composer of A Family Portrait and colleague of Dr. Marlett, conducted the work, and three NNU alumni—Jayna Johnson, Amelia Cilley and Ron Curtis, who brought an alumni choir from Ridgeview High School—also participated.
“In this year that has been so full of significant health challenges for me, singing has been one area of my life that helped me stay focused on God's blessings,” Dr. Marlett reflected. “Having this performance to look forward to was an amazing gift and I am so thankful for it.”
This oratorio was the opening work in a concert hosted by Mid-America Tours, one that ended with John Rutter conducting his Requiem. Mid-America Tours invites conductors and various choirs to participate in residencies, which culminate in these performances in Carnegie Hall.