Female musicians are both the focus of a daylong festival at Emporia State University and also the spotlighted performers at a concert at Emporia’s Granada Theatre. Both events happen Wednesday, March 12.
SheSings, the inaugural Women in Music festival, is a day of performances, interest sessions and participatory workshops celebrating the variety of Emporia State University students and the power of music as a vehicle for positive social change. This festival will expose students to women as composers, performers, and entrepreneurs. Exposing students to women operating at a high professional level will reverberate in the present and far into the future.
Composer and singer Moira Smiley is the festival headliner. Other featured artists presenting at the conference are:
- Melissa Dunphy, composer
- Jasmine Fripp, Grammy-nominated educator
- Rashi Grewal, composer and flutist
- Madison King, soprano
- Theresa Martin, composer and clarinetist
The festival is free for Emporia State students and employees. Students in high school or at other colleges, with student ID, may attend for $25. The public can register through March 12 for $75.
Admission to the evening concert is included in full festival registrations. The price of the concert only is $25 with tickets available at the door of the Emporia Granada Theatre, 807 Commercial St. Admission for ESU faculty, staff and students is free. Additional information and online registration for all events are at emporia.edu/wmf.
The evening concert features Smiley and King plus ESU Choirs and area band Weda Skirts. Granada Theatre doors open at 6:30 p.m. for the 7 p.m. show.
“The ESU Choirs are incredibly excited to be performing on the Women in Music Festival,” said Joshua Donaldson, ESU director of choral activities. “They have been working really hard to showcase music by women, and I think we have a really wonderful mix of music for the audience.”
A highlight of the concert will be singing a mass piece composed by Smiley that includes her participation with a solo. High school choirs will join ESU choirs for that piece.
“I’m so excited for our students to have this opportunity because Moira is such a brilliant artist and really focuses on connecting with the music in organic ways,” Donaldson added.
“I’m really hoping the community will come out for this event because it’s such an eclectic mix of music,” he continued. “The first half is more from the classical realm featuring some ESU ensembles as well as one of our featured artists, the stunning soprano Madison King. It’s truly going to be a spectacular night!”