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Piedmont College voice professor Dr. Barbara Steinhaus, accompanied by internationally recognized accompanist John Wustman, will present a program of German Lieder in concert at the college Sept. 15. The 7:30 p.m. concert is free and will be held in the Center for Worship and Music at the Piedmont campus in Demorest. The program will include works by Franz Schubert, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Johannes Brahms. Lieder, or art songs, are songs that mirror the literary and musical developments found in opera, cantatas and oratorio reduced to a composition for voice and piano. In nineteenth century Germany, this art form crystallized in the “Lied.” Steinhaus earned a master of music degree from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, where she studied under Wustman, who has taught vocal coaching and accompanying at Illinois since 1968. Steinhaus made her professional debut with the Atlanta Symphony in 1977, and performed as soprano soloist in Francis Poulenc’s Gloria at Carnegie Hall, New York City in 1990. Steinhaus completed her doctor of musical arts degree in vocal performance at the University of Georgia. At Piedmont, she teaches applied voice at the undergraduate and graduate levels, diction for singers, and vocal pedagogy. “It is the thrill of my career to be presenting Lieder and art song with my mentor, John Wustman,” Steinhaus said. “I first met him when I traveled to the University of Illinois for my audition to the graduate music program. Over the period of three years in the program in Champaign-Urbana, I had the opportunity to work with him on oratorio, art song, and operatic literature. I also had the opportunity to watch him work with other students, both pianists and vocalists. He changed my life and my relationship with my voice forever.” A native of Dorr, Michigan, Wustman studied with John Kollen while attending the University of Michigan. After graduating he moved to New York City where he studied piano with Leonard Shure, accompanied voice lessons in many successful studios, was the rehearsal accompanist for opera productions, and worked collaboratively with many of the finest singers in the preparation and performance of concert literature. During that time, he was also engaged as piano accompanist for the Robert Shaw Chorale. During his years at Illinois, and continuing today, he partners vocalists in the top tiers of international acclaim, including recordings and concerts with Luciano Pavarotti. He also visits colleges and universities to lead Master Classes. In November 2006, the international board of directors of the Lotte Lehmann Foundation named Wustman as recipient of the 2007 World of Song Award for his lifetime performance and teaching of art songs. -30-
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German ‘Lieder’ focus of Piedmont concert