Jonathon Struve and Jessica Paul to perform baritone and piano recital May 9

Jonathon Struve, baritone, and Jessica Paul, piano, will present a faculty recital Saturday, May 9 at noon in the Noble Recital Hall.

The performance is open to the public with no charge for admission.

The program will feature 20th century British art songs, including four folksong arrangements by Benjamin Britten, various selections by Roger Quilter, and Arthur Somervell’s song cycle “A Shropshire Lad,” with poetry by A.E. Housman.

Struve is currently serving as alumni guest lecturer in voice at Luther. He graduated summa cum laude from Luther in 2002. Struve holds the master’s degree in vocal performance from Northwestern University and is pursing a doctoral degree in vocal literature from the University of Iowa. 

Struve has appeared in opera and in recital at the University of Iowa and Northwestern University, most recently as Stephano in the University of Iowa’s production of Donizetti’s “Viva la Mama” in May 2008.

A proponent of new music, Struve has taken an active role in premiering pieces by graduate composition students at the Center for New Music at the University of Iowa. Two pieces were chosen to be performed at the Midwest Composer’s Symposium 2007 and 2008.

Paul, an associate professor of music at Luther, holds the bachelor of music degree in piano performance from Northwestern University. She earned the master of music and doctor of musical arts degrees in vocal coaching and accompanying at the University of Illinois. 

Paul is frequently engaged as a collaborative pianist and guest clinician, and she has worked with such opera companies as the Pittsburgh Opera Theatre, Opera Theatre of Illinois, National Opera Company, Cleveland Opera Theatre, Virginia Opera Association, Lake George Opera Festival, Cedar Rapids Opera, and Pine Mountain Music Festival.

She is the former principal conductor and artistic director of the Dorian Opera Theatre.  At Luther she serves as a vocal coach, collaborative pianist, and teacher of accompanying.