Tenor Austin Rue and bass-baritone Brian Linares will present an online recital Friday, April 16, at 7 p.m., livestreamed on Facebook/Austin College Music Department. The two singers each perform separately during the recital. A duet by the two students ends the recital, as they perform “Au fond du temple saint” from Les pecheurs de perles (The Pearl Fishers) by Georges Bizet.
For Austin’s portion of the recital, he is singing a song cycle consisting of five songs by Gerald Finzi called Let Us Garlands Bring and an aria called “Lonely House” from Street Scene by Kurt Weill.
A sophomore from Sherman, Austin is completing a major in biochemistry and a minor in music at Austin College. He plans to continue to medical school and become a doctor, but hopes to continue to sing classical music and to train his voice for enjoyment and relaxation.
Austin began singing as a high school freshman. Now, he sings with Austin College’s A Cappella Choir as well as taking voice lessons. “While at Austin College, my vocal teacher, Sylvia Rivers, has helped me to further develop my vocal technique very quickly,” Austin said. “It is also great that I can be involved in many types of activities at Austin College. I am able to do biochemistry research, work on my solo voice, and serve as president of a club—and I do not think that that would be possible at most universities.”
Brian Linares, also from Sherman, will perform a cycle entitled Songs of Travel by Ralph Vaughan Williams. A junior at Austin College, Brian is completing a major in music and a minor in education. He plans to continue to the Austin (College) Teacher Program to earn a Master of Arts in Teaching and then to enter graduate school to earn a master’s degree in performance. He hopes to pursue a professional singing career as an opera singer.
Brian has been singing seriously for only two years so has discovered a new passion at Austin College. Two years ago, as a Grayson College student, Brian was in a Sherman Theatricks musical performance and got some vocal assistance from Sylvia Rivers, who eventually suggested he attend Austin College and study music with her. The rest, Rivers said, is history.
Brian said he is pleased to have been able to travel to different parts of Texas and to different states to sing through the efforts of Rivers. He is particularly pleased that he can study music while focusing on all his other Austin College classes.
Brian sings as a member of the College’s A Cappella Choir and The Consort, a small jazz group, both conducted by Dr. Wayne Crannell, associate professor of Music at Austin College, where he has served as Director of Choral/Vocal Music since 1995.
Sylvia Rivers has served as an adjunct instructor at Austin College for several years in the Department of Music.
Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, global awareness, pre-professional foundations, leadership development, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 50 percent of students identifying as persons of color. The residential student body of approximately 1,300 students and an expert faculty of more than 100 educators allow a 12:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. Related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA), Austin College cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. The College, founded in 1849, is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.