JOPLIN, MO (SNS) – T he MSSU Music Department will present guest artists Marvin Murphree, Baritone, and Melinda Smashey, Piano, with Stephanie Harter, Soprano, in recital at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 28 in Webster Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public.

Marvin Murphree has appeared in opera, oratorio, song recital, and musical theatre throughout the United States and Central America. He is a National Association of Teachers of Singing Award winner.

Among his operatic roles is Don Alfonzo in Cosi fan Tutte, Sgt. Belcore in L'elisir D' Amore, Count Almaviva in Nozze de Figaro, Pirate King in Pirates of Penzance, and Silvio in Pagliacci. His musical theatre credits include Brigadoon, Kiss Me Kate, Camelo, and Oklahoma.

Murphree holds both bachelor and master of music degrees and has studied voice with Edwin Quistorff, Harry Morrison, and Vernon Yenne. He studied voice pedagogy with the late James McKinney. Currently, he is a member of the voice faculty at MSSU as well as Missouri State University and the Missouri Fine Arts Academy.

Dr. Melinda Smashey, pianist, is associate professor of music at Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Missouri, where she teaches piano and music theory. She earned both master of music and doctor of musical arts degrees in piano performance from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music, where she studied with Joanne Baker.

She also holds a bachelor of music degree in piano pedagogy from Southwest Baptist University. She stays very busy as a recital accompanist and chamber pianist, and has performed a series of recitals in Texas and Missouri as part of the Allegra piano duo.

Stephanie Harter made her professional debut in Love is a Four-Letter Word in January and has made numerous appearances in MSSU and JLT productions. In March she will appear at Philia in the MSSU production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.

After studying at the University of Edinburgh in the spring of 2005, she is finishing her degree in vocal performance at Missouri Southern where she studies voice with Dr. Susan Smith in the MSSU Music Department.

For future events, visit our website at www.mssu.edu/music/events.htm.

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