Marilyn Horne to conduct master classes at OU

NORMAN — Marilyn Horne, who semiannually serves as a visiting artist at the University of Oklahoma, will conduct opera master classes at the School of Music’s Pitman Recital Hall.

Praised by critics as having “the greatest voice of the 20th century,” Horne, former star of the Metropolitan Opera, is a world-renowned American mezzo-soprano opera singer who has performed in opera houses around the world during a highly successful international career.

She has received numerous accolades and honors in the arts, including the National Medal of the Arts, the Kennedy Center Honor (1995) and induction into the American Classical Music Hall of Fame (1999).

Horne will select the recipient of the Marilyn Horne Performance Award, based on vocal performance and potential of a University of Oklahoma student participating in one of her spring master classes scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday and Friday at the OU School of Music.

This is Horne’s 16th year as visiting professor at the School of Music. She will present the award during her final master class of the semester at 7 p.m. Friday in Pitman Recital Hall of Catlett Music Center. The class is open to the public at no cost.

“The opportunity for our students to study with opera luminary Marilyn Horne is one we value beyond words,” Mary Margaret Holt, dean of the Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts, said in a news release. “Ms. Horne conducts the sessions with sensitivity, humor, amazing expertise and complete respect for the art form. Our voice students are among the most fortunate in the nation to benefit from this highly significant opportunity in their professional development. As always, we look forward to welcoming Marilyn Horne back to OU and the School of Music.”

For more information about the master classes, contact the OU School of Music at 325-2081.