Pictured, left to right: Darci Bultema, Philip Everingham and Audrey Miller
ABERDEEN, S.D. – Northern State University will host a faculty concert that serves as the official introduction to The Virinca Trio.
“We are the Virinca Trio” will take place at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021, on the Jewett Stage in the Johnson Fine Arts Center. All are welcome to attend this free concert.
The recital program contains a variety of works showcasing the individual and collaborative talents of the Virinca Trio, a South Dakota-based trio featuring Drs. Darci Bultema, soprano, Audrey Miller, clarinet, and Philip Everingham, piano.
The Virinca Trio has received grants, has a CD in the works, and has had performances presented internationally at conferences. The trio’s mission has been to perform rare and under-served repertoire, as well as to commission works from American composers.
“The often-neglected voices of women composers and men and women of color are championed by our ensemble,” said Bultema, Professor of Music, Voice and Opera at NSU. “Songs and texts by these people unfortunately continue to be relatively obscure in the field.”
These additions to the chamber music repertoire have greatly enhanced access for performers to works which are representative of a broader group of performers and audience members. In recent years, the Virinca Trio has commissioned a total of 20 songs by 4 composers in this format. All of the songs are accessible to both students and professionals in the field.
Deriving from the Esperanto international language, as well as Sanskrit, “virinca” (vee-REEN-cha) loosely means the creator and all of his and her followers.
About the Trio
Bultema has served on the NSU music faculty since 2007. Praised for her “luscious legato line” and “sumptuous crescendos” Bultema is recognized for her versatility in opera and art song. She has been a recital and opera collaborator with pianist Everingham of Columbus, Ohio, since the early 2000s. A highlight of their collaboration has been their participation with the Barcelona Festival of Song in Spain in 2018, where the duo performed art songs from Latin America and both currently serve as ambassadors.
In addition to Bultema, Everingham has collaborated with instrumentalists, choral ensembles, and singers throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. Studies have been in Collaborative Piano, where he holds the degrees of Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Minnesota, and a Master of Music from Westminster Choir College. Everingham serves as Director of Music at First Presbyterian Church in Granville, Ohio, where he conducts vocal, and several handbell ensembles; supervises the Youth and Children’s Choir directors; and plays the 21-rank Johnson pipe organ.
Miller, Associate Professor of Music and Clarinetist at NSU, has international and regional credits including performances in Belgium, Germany, and across the United States. As a D’Addario Woodwind and Conn-Selmer artist/clinician, Miller’s enthusiasm and brilliance as an educator and performer creates an unparalleled excitement between students and their instrument.
About the Recital
The recital program features the Virinca Trio’s most recent commission, entitled “Poppies in the Cemetery” by composer Jonathan Bailey Holland. This set of four songs gives new meaning to African American poets ranging from the immense talent of Langston Hughes to the gripping and harrowing poetry of Rita Dove. “Poppies in the Cemetery” had its world premiere with an international audience this summer at the International Clarinet Association’s ClarinetFest 2021.
Also on the program are two selections from “She Loves,” another commission by the Virinca Trio. “She Loves” was composed by NSU professor and Aberdeen University Community Symphony’s maestro Dr. Christopher Stanichar.
Rounding out the recital program are works by Aaron Copland, Jaime León, and Carlos Guastavino.
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.