College of Fine Arts and Design

January 5, 2012

The University of Central Oklahoma School of Music will present a special performance by Kyle Ketelsen, world-renowned American bass-baritone, at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 14 at UCO's Mitchell Hall Theater.

The performance will feature Ketelsen singing a variety of compositions including "Vous Qui Faites" from Faust, "Catalogue Aria" from Don Giovanni, songs from "Don Quichotte à Dulcinée," by Ravel and "Blue Mountain Ballads," a set of songs, by Paul Bowles.

"Kyle Ketelsen is an amazing vocalist and I am thrilled that our students will get the opportunity to see him perform," said Kevin Eckard, D.M.A., UCO associate professor of voice and director of opera.

"Kyle is an active, successful vocalist who performs at some of the world's most famous opera houses.  I know that his performance will be very inspirational to our students," he continued.

Ketelsen is in regular demand by the world's leading opera companies and orchestras for his vibrant stage presence and his distinctive vocalism.  He is a frequent performer at famous opera houses such as the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, the Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Houston Grand Opera.

Ketelsen has also won First Prize in several international vocal competitions including the Metropolitan Opera National Council, the Richard Tucker Music Foundation (Career Grant), the George London Foundation and the Licia Albanese Puccini Foundation, among others.

During Ketelsen's visit to Central, he will conduct a master class that is free and open to the public.  The class will take place from 4 - 6 p.m., Friday, Jan. 13 in the Radke Fine Arts Theatre located in the UCO Center for Transformative Learning.

Tickets to the performance are $20 for adults and $5 for UCO students with a UCO I.D.  For tickets, call the Mitchell Hall Theater Box Office at (405) 974-3375.

For a complete listing of UCO College of Fine Arts and Design events and performances, visit www.uco.edu/cfad/events.