For the City Times

The Symphony Orchestra, Concert Choir and Choral Union will combine to perform two pieces by Ludwig van Beethoven at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point on Thursday, Nov. 30, and Friday, Dec. 1.

The concert will be held at 7:30 PM both evenings in Michelsen Hall at the Noel Fine Arts Center. The groups will perform Beethoven’s Overture to Coriolanus, op. 62, and Mass in C Major, op. 86. The choirs are conducted by Lucinda Thayer, professor and director of choral activities, and the orchestra is conducted by Andres Moran, assistant professor of horn and orchestral director.

The performance will feature four additional vocalists – current faculty members Susan Bender, soprano, and Matthew Markham, bass-baritone, former faculty member Dennis Willhoit, tenor, and alumna and visiting lecturer Chelsea Betz, mezzo soprano.

Bender is a professor of voice who has taught at UW-Stevens Point since 2003. She teaches the Music Department’s Opera Workshop and has performed with a variety of operas and orchestras. She is a Metropolitan Opera National Council winner and her students have won numerous vocal awards and contests as well.

Markham came to UW-Stevens Point in 2012 and is an associate professor of voice. He has an active career on the operatic, concert and recital stages. He has won several vocal awards, as have his students. He also teaches the Opera Workshop and serves on the Wisconsin National Association of Teachers of Singing Board.

Willhoit is the president and musical director for the American Gothic Performing Arts Festival. He is also an active soloist and principal tenor in the St. Louis Symphony Chorus. While at UW-Stevens Point, he earned a 2010 Excellence in Teaching Award.

Betz is serving as a visiting lecturer at UW-Stevens Point this semester while Bender is on sabbatical. She graduated from UW-Stevens Point in 2014 and earned a master’s degree in vocal performance at Northwestern University.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $7 for senior citizens, $5 for UW-Stevens Point students, faculty and youth and free the day of the concert for students with a UW-Stevens Point I.D. if not sold out. Tickets are available at the University Information and Tickets Office in the Dreyfus University Center, by calling 715-346-4100 or 800-838-3378 or at http://tickets.uwsp.edu.

Tickets also may be purchased at the door if available. Proceeds benefit student scholarships.