IN Series

The IN Series
Recital

Teresa Ferrara, Soprano | Allison Freeman, Piano
in conjunction with Women’s History Month

In honor of Women’s History Month, local soprano Teresa Ferrara presents a recital that explores the works of American women composers and poets, who are too often overlooked in conventional classical programming. Showcasing pieces by both living and African American composers, this program gives just a taste of the impact women have had on music and the world. From the poetry of Emily Dickinson to the works of Lori Laitman, Teresa—along with pianist Allison Freeman—will be exploring over 100 years of American women in the arts.

PROGRAM

WOMEN POETS

Dreams of the Heart  | Roy Belfield, Jr. (b. 1968)

My Little Dreams (Text by Georgia Douglas Johnson, 1880-1966)
Houses of Dreams (Text by Sarah Teasdale, 1884-1933)
Hold Fast Your Dreams (Text by Louise Driscoll, 1975-1957)

[Selections from the] Twelve Poems of Emily Dickinson | Aaron Copland (1900-1990)
(Emily Dickinson, 1830-1886)

Why Do They Shut Me Out of Heaven?
Going to Heaven!
The Chariot

Will There Really be a Morning? | Richard Hundley (1931-2018)

WOMEN COMPOSERS

African American Women Composers

In the Springtime by Composer Betty Jackson King (1928-1994)

Love Let the Wind Cry…How I Adore Thee and Come Down Angels (spiritual) by Composer Undine Smith Moore (1904-1989)

Piano solo: To a Yellow Rose and An April Day by Composer Florence Price (1887-1953)

Women Composers

Serenade by Composer Jean Eichelberger Ivey (1923-2010)

If I… (Text by Emily Dickinson) and Dreaming by Composer Lori Laitman (b. 1955)

CLOSER:
In honor of Supreme Court Justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and her favorite opera, The Marriage of Figaro
Dove sono from Le Nozze di Figaro by Composer W.A. Mozart (1756-1791)

The In Series’ interview on the Laura Coates Show will be available on this page on Wednesday, March 10, 2021.

ABOUT TERESA FERRARA, SOPRANO

Praised for her “vocal control and exquisite refinement” (DC Metro Arts), soprano Teresa Ferrara is dedicated to music’s power to transcend social divides and inspire people of all ages and backgrounds. She thrives in communicating the message of music to her audiences by expressing words with power and precision, whether performing in mainstage productions or outreach opportunities in her community. Ms. Ferrara has performed as a solo vocalist at the Kennedy Center on the Millennium Stage and in the Terrace Theater, and her chorus work has allowed her to perform often with the National Symphony Orchestra. It has also brought her to international venues in France and Cuba. She has earned many awards for her singing, including the George Woodhead Prize in Voice from the Peabody Conservatory, the Award for Excellence in the Arts from the National Society of Arts and Letters, and The Washington Post Music and Dance Scholarship Award. Most recently, Ms. Ferrara was a semi-finalist in the FMMC’s 2019 Washington International Competition for Voice. 2019/2020 saw many firsts for Ms. Ferrara, including performances with Maryland Lyric Opera, Baltimore Musicales, and Opera on Tap. Appearing often with the IN Series opera company in Washington, D.C., Ms. Ferrara has been a featured soloist in their productions of Viva V.E.R.D.I. – The Promised (an eight-singer adaptation of Verdi’s Requiem) and Figaro in Four Quartets, in which she reprised the role of Countess Almaviva from Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro. Other notable opera credits include Mozart’s Così fan tutte (Despina) and Don Giovanni (Zerlina cover/Chorus), as well as Donizetti’s L’Elisir d’Amore (Giannetta) and Massenet’s Chérubin (L’Ensoleillad). Ms. Ferrara attended the University of Maryland School of Music (B.M.), where she was a member of the Primannum Honor Society and Sigma Alpha Iota. She recently completed her graduate studies at the Peabody Conservatory (M.M.) and is currently a soprano choral scholar at the Chevy Chase United Methodist Church. Whether through opera, oratorio, or art song, Ms. Ferrara plans to continue to pursue musical endeavors that stretch the norms of classical music and seek to educate and serve the community.