Music Division Distinguished Performer and Scholar Series presents guest artist Joe Wiggett, director of the Opera Workshop and an Associate Professor of Voice at California State University, Stanislaus. As a past member of the Juilliard Opera Center, the Lyric Opera of Chicago Center for American Artists and the Prague Mozart Academy, he has performed over thirty five operatic roles and brings a wealth of hands-on experience to the studio and the stage. He has given recitals throughout the United States, Europe and the Soviet Union and is the recipient of numerous awards and honors including three Birgit Nilsson Prizes, as well as two grants from the Puccini Foundation. He holds degrees in Music Education from the University of Maine, a Master's Degree in Vocal Performance from the Manhattan School of Music and a Doctorate in Vocal Pedagogy and Performance from the University of Colorado, Boulder

Dr. Wiggett was in Professor of Music Ludlow Hallman’s studio when he was a UMaine student and won the Nordica award three times. He sang the leading roles of Gianni Schicchi in the Puccini opera by that name, the Count in the Marriage of Figaro (Mozart), and Ford in Verdi's Falstaff in full productions of the University of Maine Opera Theatre while an undergraduate student here. He was also heard as baritone soloist in University of Maine performances of the Brahms Requiem and Off''s Carmina Burana under Hallman’s direction. He also sang the very challenging baritone solo part in Britten's War Requiem with the Bangor Symphony Orchestrea and the late Werner Torkanowsky.

Time: 7:30 PM.