Bowling Green, Ky. - The Department of Music at Western Kentucky University has much to celebrate in its fourth annual scholarship recital at 7:30 p.m. Saturday (April 16) in the Recital Hall in the Ivan Wilson Center Fine Arts Center.

"This Gift of Music Recital is how the Western Kentucky University Department of Music says thank you to the music scholarship donors in a way that musicians do best, through the art of performing," said Mitzi Groom, department head. "This non-verbal appreciation is very unique to the world of musicians and to this recital.

"These student scholarship performers are the winners here because the donors have invested in their musical career. For many of these students, it has made all the difference in making college attendance a reality, and not just a dream."

Student performers include: Natalie Adcock of Central City, Ky.; William Anderson, Desmond Anthony, Jennifer Gottfried, Patrick O'Rourke, Chris Powell, Natalie Riley and Jacob Sensenig, all of Bowling Green; Tyler Ayers of Smiths Grove, Ky.; Amanda Biggs of Bloomington, Ind.; Andrew Causey of Franklin, Tenn.; Zach Culp of Paducah; Jeff East and Steven Lopez, both of Franklin, Ky.; Katherine Goforth of Chattanooga, Tenn.; Lindsay Harned of Lebanon Junction, Ky.; Rebecca Hurst of Somerset, Ky.; Brittany Jarboe of North Vernon, Ind.; Brandon Jones of Bremen, Ky; Micah McAllister of Redding, Calif.; Christina Napier of Adolphus, Ky.; Mary Alice Ratzlaff of Orland, Calif.; Nate Shouse of Raymore, Mo.; Janie Weiter of Louisville, Ky.; and Yi Zhou of Canton, China.

Saturday's concert will feature tenor and soprano soloists, string ensemble, flute/oboe/cello trio, male vocal octet, harp concerto/string ensemble, horn solo, piano solo, clarinet/sax duet, and euphonium solo. Composers that will be featured are Corelli, Quilter, Mendelssohn, Leclair, Strauss, Rachmaninoff, Handel, Schickele, Arban, W.H. Smith and Puccini.

"The scholarship donors have been helping us to build a strong musical foundation for years, and we are delighted to be able to give back some interest on these deposits," Groom said. "These scholarships help us to attract some of the brightest musicians in the South, and help us to continue to reinforce how special Western Kentucky is. We also hope that these recipients and their donors will continue to communicate for years to come, even after graduation occurs."

Dr. Don Speer is the coordinator for this concert, with Elizabeth Volkman serving as the mistress of ceremonies. Following the concert, a reception will be hosted in the Recital Hall lobby by Dr. David Lee, dean of the Potter College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.

"The Department of Music expresses its sincere appreciation to the benefactors, family and friends who generously support these scholarships," Groom said. "We have many students who could benefit from the support that scholarships bring. The demand for financial support is greater than the existing scholarships can supply in our department, which currently has more than 150 music majors."

More WKU news is available at www.wku.edu. If you'd like to receive WKU news via e-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu.

For information, contact Jill Blythe at (270) 745-5283 or Mitzi Groom at (270) 745-3751.