This Sunday with the Muses

The Muses will present their second seasonal concert, “Father’s Day Garden Party” in the subscription series, “The Four Seasons in Art & Song” at Garvan Woodland Gardens’ Anthony Chapel, at 3 p.m. on Father’s Day, June 16.
This concert is sure to put a song in your dear Dad’s heart as Father’s Day in Garvan Woodland Gardens will sparkle with classic tunes from the musical theatre stage and other popular standards, including songs from "The King & I," "My Fair Lady," "Sound of Music," "West Side Story," "Phantom of the Opera," and many others. Professional singers Dustin Peterson, Katy Yerina and Ken Goodman join Hot Springs’ Muses Deleen Davidson and trombonist Steve Suter, along with pianist Chris Parker of Little Rock for this distinctive presentation of musical theater favorites.
Dustin Peterson, a Kansas native and graduate of the University of Kansas with a BFA in Theater and Voice and an MM in Opera Performance, is a Hot Springs favorite who first came to our attention as a voice apprentice with the Hot Springs Music Festival performing the role of Don Jose in the Festival’s production of Carmen. Peterson, a handsome and strapping young man is a superb tenor and gracious performer who has also performed the roles of Hoffman from the “Tales of Hoffman”, Don Ernesto from “Don Pasquale”, as well as performances in two Muses opera productions, of “Don Giovanni” and “Die Fledermaus”. He is currently performing in the National Music Festival in Chestertown, Md. and is scheduled to sing in the Winter Opera in St. Louis next year.
Katy Yerina is a native of Dover, AR and a graduate of Arkansas Tech University. At only 23 years old, this vivacious young soprano is an experienced musical theater performer who has had roles in “South Pacific”, “Willy Wonka”, “The Old Maid and the Thief” and most recently as Peter Pan in “Peter Pan”. Currently, Yerina works as a voice teacher and choreographer for her local Junior and Senior High School theatre productions, as well as a middle school choir director in Russellville, AR.
Hot Springs own Ken Goodman; a Henderson graduate with countless awards and accolades has long been an entertainer/performer. His stage appearances include lead roles in Bye, Bye Birdie, The Music Man, Babes in Toyland, Cinderella, The Foreigner, Le Nozze di Figaro, and an adaptation of L’Histoire du Soldat.

At the age of four, Ken was in a terrible auto accident in which he nearly completely severed his tongue. After a tedious operation and months of healing, Ken regained his speech and song, and today, this velvety smooth baritone entertains audiences singing the songs of his heart.
Deleen Davidson is a veteran of the musical theatre stage, having made her official debut at age 10 as a gingerbread man in “Hansel & Grettel”. From there she rapidly progressed through the standard repertoire: Sound of Music, Music Man, Oklahoma, Scrooge, Man of LaMancha, Guys & Dolls, Annie, Hello Dolly, Barnum, Pippin, Evita, and lots, lots more. All through high school and college, she was cast as a singer and dancer (always more singing, than dancing), eventually working also as choreographer, and stage director. Even though her professional work turned more to classical music, her recitals always included musical theater pieces. Doing more performing abroad, it became clear that European audiences really wanted to hear American Broadway show tunes. “They have plenty of wonderful singers who can do Schubert and Mozart; they want to hear Rogers & Hammerstein, Bernstein, and Gershwin”, commented Deleen. 

The Muses Creative Artistry Project, a non-profit arts organization whose mission is to preserve the classical arts through performance and education, was designed to promote music, art, creativity and wellness. The Muses was founded in 2007 when Davidson relocated to Hot Springs from New Orleans after her home was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. Each year, the Muses bring performers from across the country to entertain audiences throughout Arkansas with world-class operas and a variety of musical and artistic performances.
Series tickets for the final three concerts are still available for $60, a $20 savings over individual prices of $25 per concert. Advance tickets are encouraged, as several of last year’s concerts were sold out in advance.
For more information, contact the Muses at (501) 463-4514 or www.themusesproject.org.