Pictured: Abbigayle Quinn (left) and Naomi Jean Davis (right)
ABERDEEN, S.D. – Northern State University students Naomi Jean Davis and Abbigayle Quinn will hold their senior recital at 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20, in the Johnson Fine Arts Center Jewett Theater.
Davis, who plays saxophone, will perform “Fantasia” by Heitor Villa-Lobos; “Blue Caprice” by Victor Morosco; “Second Prelude” by George Gershwin, arr. Sigurd Rascher; and “Rumba” by Maurice Whitney. She will be accompanied by Aldous Ulvog.
Quinn, a mezzo-soprano, will perform selections from the following song cycles: “La Regata Veneziana” by Gioachino Rossini; “Mélodies, Op. 21” by Georges Bizet; “Myrthen, Op. 25” by Robert Schumann; and “Five Elizabethan Songs” by Ivor Gurney. She will be accompanied by Tierra Cassens.
Davis, the daughter of Scott and Greta Davis, grew up in Watertown, graduating from Watertown Senior High School in 2016.
At Northern, she is a music performance major who has studied with Professor Fritz Hemke.
“Northern has the best affordable music program in South Dakota,” Davis said as to why she chose to attend NSU.
Davis will graduate in May 2022. She hopes to become a cruise ship musician and grow her performance skills.
Quinn, daughter of Kelsey and Joy Huss of Cresbard and Tim Quinn of Faulkton, grew up in Cresbard, graduating from Faulkton High School in 2018.
At Northern, Quinn is majoring in music education, vocal and instrumental, and has studied with Dr. Darci Bultema.
“I chose to attend Northern because I had amazing experiences growing up around Northern. I attended many different events here throughout junior high and high school. I even started taking lessons with Dr. Bultema during my junior year of high school,” she said. “That really gave me an insight on what an education at NSU could look like! It also helped that I knew several students who went here and loved the program. Ultimately, being within an hour of home and having such a high quality education was the biggest factor in making my decision.”
Quinn will graduate from Northern in spring 2022 and plans to teach right after graduation.
“I am really open to teaching either elementary, or junior high/high school vocal, or all of the above,” she said. “I feel that there are so many opportunities available, and I can’t wait to discover what the future may hold for me!”
About Northern State University
Northern State University is a student-centered institution that provides an outstanding educational experience, preparing students through the liberal arts and professional education for their future endeavors. A regional university, Northern offers rigorous academics; diverse civic, social and cultural opportunities; and a commitment to building an inclusive environment for all points of view. Northern also offers a broad-based athletics program, sponsoring 15 NCAA Division II intercollegiate varsity sports that compete in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (NSIC). The university strives to enrich the community through partnerships such as its Educational Impact Campaign, which opened a new South Dakota School for the Blind and Visually Impaired; new athletic and recreation fields; and an on-campus regional sports complex. With the $55 million campaign, NSU has been the recipient of more than $150 million in privately funded building projects and scholarships within a decade. To learn more, visit NSU Admissions.