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Lilite to Present Faculty Recital Feb. 28

February 14, 2013

The recital will include "Four Hymns" by Ralph Vaughan Williams; "Letters from Composers" by Dominick Argento; and "Hermit Songs, Opus 29" by Samuel Barber.

Lilite earned a doctorate in voice performance and literature at Eastman School of Music, a master's degree in voice performance and pedagogy at Pennsylvania State University, and a bachelor's degree in voice and piano performance at Biola University. His performing credits include works from opera, oratorio, chamber music and the art song repertories. He has been featured several times with the Buffalo, N.Y., Philharmonic Orchestra. He has sung in the Middle East, Haiti and throughout the United States in concert and opera. His career has also guided his path to study with Carol Webber and perform for Dawn Upshaw, Benita Valente, Menahem Pressler, Brian Zeger and Israeli contralto Mira Zakai and collaborate with the Norman Chamber Players, Scissortail Productions and others.

Among other honors, Lilite received OBU's Promising Teacher Award in 2009-10, the Music Teachers National Association Student Achievement Recognition (StAR) Award in 2007-08, the Excellence in Teaching Prize for teaching assistants at the Eastman School of Music in 2006-07 and the Presser Award.

American guitarist Terry Banks began his formal training in 2006 studying under the tutelage of Jeff Hicks in Oklahoma City. In his late teens, he entered several competitions and earned recognition and honors. He moved to the University of Oklahoma as a freshman where he studied with Larry Hammett. Having transferred to OBU as a music education student in 2010, he has benefitted from the pedagogy of Scott Johnson who prepared him to become an instructor in the OBU Preparatory Department, a distinction he has held since 2011.

Pianist Cynthia Cortright has earned a fine reputation as soloist, accompanist and teacher. Her academic degrees include a doctorate in piano performance from the University of Oklahoma, and a bachelor's degree in piano performance from Indiana University. She has been a regular performer for the Kemp Concert Series at First Presbyterian Church in Oklahoma City, the "First Tuesdays" concert series at First Lutheran Church in Oklahoma City, the Norman Chamber Players and Scissortail Productions. In l994, at the invitation of the U.S. State Department, Cortright served as an artistic ambassador in an extended tour to Israel, Jordan, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Egypt. She maintains a private piano studio in Oklahoma City and serves as organist and choir director at St. John's Episcopal Church in Oklahoma City.

Stacy Smith serves as adjunct professor of clarinet at Southern Nazarene University in Bethany, Okla. Smith has completed work toward a doctorate of musical arts at the University of Oklahoma. His earned a master's degree in music at DePaul University in Chicago and a bachelor's degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music. He appeared as soloist in the University of Oklahoma's 2010 chamber music series with the faculty string quartet, the University of Oklahoma Symphony Orchestra and the Kansas City Mozarteum. He also has performed as a substitute player with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic and the Tulsa Philharmonic and has presented recitals in Arkansas, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma.