Jeanne Robison and Manami Kawamura

Soprano Jeanne Robison and pianist Manami Kawamura once again join forces for a Music at Noon recital.
The program will include arias and Edvard Grieg's Six Songs, Op. 48.

Dr. Jeanne Robison has served as Coordinator of Vocal Studies and Director of the Biola Opera Theater since 1995.  She received her Bachelor of Music Education and her Master of Vocal Performance at Kent State University, where she studied voice with Donna Pegors and opera with James Stewart.  She continued her doctoral studies at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music, where she had the distinction of being the first doctoral candidate to choose opera direction as her secondary emphasis, and presented a lecture recital “Verdi as Director” which featured scenes from Verdi’s operas with Verdi’s own staging.  While at CCM she studied opera direction under Italo Tajo and voice with Nancy Carr and Patricia Berlin.  Dr. Robison taught voice and founded opera programs at Delta State University, John Brown University, and Biola University, as well as serving on the music faculties at the University of Minnesota Duluth and Mansfield University, where she also served as vocal coach for all musical theatre productions.

Manami Kawamura is a graduate of Uenogakuen Junior High and High School Music courses, and College with a B.M. in piano performance. She received the highest honor among the graduating seniors and performed in the 52nd New Professionals Concert Series sponsored by Yomiuri Times in Tokyo. She studied for two years at Biola University, where she received the Outstanding Musician’s Award (1986-87), Outstanding Pianist Award (1985-86), and was chosen to play in the Honors Concerto Concert (1986). She then went to Indiana University, where she received an Assistant Instructorship with full scholarship, and earned her M.M. in piano performance in 1990. Her performances include solo recitals, as well as playing a piano concerto with the Biola Symphony Orchestra, piano duo programs, piano accompanying, and chamber ensemble performances. Ms. Kawamura has been a member of the music faculty of Biola University since 1990, and has given recitals in Japan and the United States. Her piano instructors include Menahem Pressler, Artist-in-Residence at Biola, distinguished professor of Indiana University, and pianist of the Beaux Arts Trio; Ms. Jennie K. Wong, former Piano Area Coordinator at Biola University; and Ms. Hisako Mizuno, former distinguished professor of Uenogakuen.