Date:
11/8/2002
Contact: Wendel Sloan at 505.562.2253
Reporter: Colleen Wright
PORTALES – Eastern New Mexico University's Department of Music is presenting a faculty recital on Thursday, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. in Buchanan Hall in the Music Building, starring Trio Encantada.
The Trio Encantada ensemble is composed of three Eastern professors: Dr. Jeanie Wozencraft-Ornellas, Dr. Tracy Carr and Dr. Mark Dal Porto. The group was formed in May of 1999 when three professors joined together to form a group, with the idea of performing around the Southwest.
"We are all performers," Dr. Carr said. "We thought it would be good idea to put something together where we could present our music together on stage."
The group presents a faculty recital for Eastern once a year. They also travel around the Southwestern part of the country performing. The trio also teaches master- class sessions about music and the art of performing for students or the audience. "It gives us a chance to get together and help other budding young musicians perform, play, and write music," Dr. Dal Porto said. "We really enjoy it."
This year's recital is a special one for Dr. Dal Porto. No only does he play piano, but also composes musical pieces. This will be the first time the group performs pieces of his music.
Dr. Carr will play the oboe. She teaches oboe, bassoon, and music history and music appreciation.
Dr. Wozencraft-Ornellas is singing soprano. In 1979, Dr. Ornellas performed in the Cleveland Opera; since then she has been in several recitals and operas.
Members of the group say that the ENMU music department has been very supportive of the Trio; they have funded almost all of their performances away from Portales, including one they attended in Wyoming last spring.
Dr. Dal Porto has been asked to be the guest composer and conductor at several schools of music around the Midwest and has received three awards for his compositions. He is now rewriting Eastern New Mexico University's Alma Mater song, to be played at commencement in December.
Before coming to ENMU, Dr. Carr traveled around New England performing recitals. She then taught at University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth for two years. She has worked at Eastern for the past two years.
Dr. Ornellas performed in 12 countries before coming to teach at Eastern. She has been with ENMU for 18 years, teaching voice, vocal, pedagogy, vocal literature, and directing opera and music theatre production.
This summer the group hopes to appear in a recital in Germany.
For more information, contact Dr. at 505.562.2681 or by e-mail at tracy.carr@enmu.edu.
Trio Encantada will perform at 7 p.m. on Nov. 14 in Buchanan Hall in the Music Building. (courtesy photo)