The Riddle Recital: Ten Medieval Mysteries In Song
Join us Sat, Sep 28, 2024, @ 7:00 PM or Sun, Sep 29, 2024, @ 3:00 PM for this exciting event!
Hwæt! Old English meets new music in this recital of Medieval riddles. In a unique concert experience, select favorites from the Exeter Book collection (ca. 970 CE) have been set to music in the original Old English alongside new translations. Are you clever enough to guess the subject of each riddle? Then don’t miss “The Riddles Recital” where you will have the chance to hear early Medieval poetry as you’ve never heard it before!
Composers Keith Allegretti, Ben Tibbetts, and Amy Herman will enchant you with songs for harp, horn, flute, piccolo, waterphone, piano, mezzo, and tenor. Dive into the culture of pre-Conquest England, and learn about the creative process behind these works. Cuman ye ond hlysten!
Amy Herman - Composer, Translator
Amy has been fascinated with language, translation, and music since she was in grade school. She currently resides in Austin, TX where she teaches Piano at the Armstrong Community Music School. Her Libretto, Undina Speaks, was performed in LOLA’s Lied concert in November 2023. Amy studied German language and literature at Middlebury Language Schools and did her undergraduate studies at Sarah Lawrence College.
Ben Tibbets - Composer / Pianist
Ben is a pianist and composer based in Austin. Before moving to Texas in 2021, Ben worked as a staff accompanist for the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Ben is a piano teacher at Timbral Music Studios, Premier Music Academy, and the Armstrong Community Music School. He is currently a staff pianist for Ballet Austin and the Trinity Church of Austin. Ben has composed and arranged hundreds of pieces for chamber ensembles and soloists, as well as original music for animations, films, and video games.
For a full archive of his work, visit www.bentibbetts.net
Keith Allegretti - Composer
Born in Santa Fe, New Mexico in 1989, Keith is a composer and pianist who enjoys working comfortably in many genres, including chamber, orchestral, vocal, and electronic music. Recently, his music has been performed at several concert series including Chicago Lyric Opera's Beyond the Aria, Latitude 49's Bagatelles Project, Tetractys New Music's Here be Monsters, and Local Opera Local Artists's Lied. His opera Good Country received its first performance at the University of Texas thanks to a grant from UT's College of Fine Arts Diversity Committee in 2019. It has since been performed by Local Opera Local Artists (LOLA) and Portland State University.
Currently residing in Austin, Texas, Keith is an active performer and teacher. He enjoys playing piano in any sized ensemble and currently co-directs Austin Community College's inaugural new music ensemble where he serves on the composition and theory faculty. In addition, he maintains a private studio of piano and composition students in the Austin area.
Bethany Ammon - Mezzo-soprano
Bethany is an actively performing mezzo-soprano and voice instructor. Bethany obtained her BA in music and in French in her home state of Mississippi from the University of Southern Mississippi, followed by a MM from Manhattan School of Music in New York City. Bethany has taught all ages: from developing pre-k choirs to private voice lessons for adults, and everyone in between, in Mississippi, New York, and Texas. While in New York, Bethany was on staff at the Young People's Chorus of New York City.
Bethany has had the opportunity to perform around the country and abroad in Italy and actively pursues a performing career in opera, musical theater, recitals, and choral opportunities. Enjoying all aspects of the theater, Bethany has experience as production manager for several operas and musicals, choreographer, hair and make-up artist, event planner, diction coach, and even front-of-house manager on numerous occasions.
Bethany believes that everyone can sing and invites anyone to explore their own voice. She aims to connect with her students by creating a dialogue about the sensation of singing. Understanding and flexible, she strives to create a teaching and singing environment that challenges, nurtures, and communicates. Most recently Bethany developed curriculum for young singers to learn together in a program called Songbirds.
Carlee Abschneider - Production Manager
Carlee is serving as production manager for the LOLA Riddle Recital project. Carlee is known mostly as a singer and teacher but enjoys working on and off the stage. She is also experienced as a stage manager and stage director. As a singer, she has most recently performed with Berlin Opera Academy, Opera San Antonio, and Gillbert & Sullivan Austin.
Carlee has also previously performed with One Ounce Opera, Hill Country Community Theatre, ATX Musical Theatre Collective, Music On Site, Inc., Texas State Opera, Spotlight on Opera, Varna International Music Academy, Resonance Opera, TAMUC Opera Ensemble, and HBU Opera Workshop.
Dr. Curtis Simmons - French Horn
Curtis, a distinguished musician and educator based in Austin, Texas, has made a significant impact as a private lessons teacher, dynamic performer, and music professor. Since 2018, Curtis has been enriching the musical landscape of the Austin community through his roles at Leander ISD and Temple College.
As a private lessons instructor, Curtis imparts his wisdom to French horn students at Canyon Ridge Middle School, Four Points Middle School, and Vandegrift High School. At Vandegrift, he additionally leads masterclasses for TMEA all-state auditions and conducts the VHS Horn Choir. Curtis joined the Temple College Adjunct Faculty in 2022. He provides weekly lessons to undergraduate horn students and guides them through juries, concerts, and recitals.
Curtis holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Horn Performance from the University of Texas at Austin and has showcased his musical talents with various orchestras and ensembles. Committed to education, he co-founded the Austin Horn Camp, a week-long summer camp fostering ensemble playing and musical growth for Central Texas Horn students.
Beyond teaching, Curtis is a key member of the Austin Brass Collective, contributing to its formation in 2021 and serving as the Board Secretary. ABC delivers high-quality music to the Austin community while providing educational performances for local students.
In addition to his musical pursuits, Curtis enjoys travel, hiking, movies, and quality time with his wife, Ashlyn, and their pets, Prika, Penny, and Paisley. His multifaceted contributions to the local music scene reflect his dedication to nurturing the next generation of musicians and building collaborative, community-driven initiatives.
Kevin Arratia-Diaz - Tenor
Young Mexican American tenor Kevin is a talented musician with a degree in Music from Blinn College and knowledge gathered from both professional engagements in Central Texas with multiple opera companies and artist programs in Europe where he worked with renowned artists from all over the world. With extensive experience performing in diverse repertoire from baroque to modern, he has also excelled in various genres, showcasing a remarkable versatility that captivates audiences.
From classical to contemporary, Kevin brings both technical skill and emotional depth to every performance. His dedication to the craft and ability to adapt across different musical styles makes him a standout performer and an inspiring individual. Visit his website, www.kevinarratiadiaz.com, for more information on this artist and information on future engagements.
Lisa Lamb - Harp
Lisa earned a Master of Music degree in Harp Performance at the University of Texas at Austin. She has performed as Principal Harpist with the Austin Civic Orchestra since 2010. She also has performed with numerous Austin area ensembles including the Austin Symphony, Musicians of the San Antonio Symphony, Austin Opera, Conspirare, Central Texas Philharmonic, Temple Symphony, Mid-Texas Symphony, Valley Symphony, Austin Symphonic Band, and more.
Mary Blockey - Consultant
MB was born and spent her wonder years in southern Illinois and was moved with her family to the Philadelphia suburbs. She discovered her calling as a medievalist at Bryn Mawr College, did a Ph.D. on Old English syntax at Yale University, and after and during semesters abroad has been a professor in the English department at UT-Austin. It has been wonderful to revisit the pronunciation of Old English (the 700 years of English from 449 AD to about 1100) and the riddles of the Exeter Book, which, unlike their medieval Latin counterparts, are left in the manuscript without solutions.
Monica Salas - Flute
Monica is a classically trained Flautist, Vocalist, Ukulelist, Guitarist, Composer, Music Teacher, and Early Childhood Music Specialist, who enjoys playing, singing, and learning different genres of music. She currently resides, performs, composes, records, teaches Flute at Armstrong Community School, and is a full-time employed Music Specialist for JoyRX and gets to share her gifts with Pediatric hospitals/Centers in and around Austin, TX. You can find her bands single release "Ay La Vida" from their upcoming album and follow them for updates on all streaming platforms here: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/laluzverdeband/ay-la-vida
Official Lyric Video on Youtube here: https://youtu.be/lmOP8Ug5JEY?si=5v2F0L-0mHNFMj7r
