April 11, 2006– Sylvia Bierschenk

School of Music to honor Jill Grove at Extravaganza 19

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - The Stephen F. Austin School of Music will honor Jill Grove, professional opera singer, with the Outstanding Music Alumna award on Friday, April 21, during Extravaganza 19. The annual gala banquet and dance, held at the Fredonia Hotel and Convention Center, is sponsored by the SFA Friends of Music.

Grove's accomplishments will be highlighted by her former vocal coach, Shirley Watterston, SFA lecturer.

While a student at SFA, Grove studied under the late Dr. David Jones. After receiving her Bachelor of Music degree in 1990, the Galveston native attended the Music Academy of the West and the New England Conservatory. She was a member of the Merola Program at San Francisco Opera and the Houston Grand Opera Studio.

Renowned for her distinctive dramatic mezzo soprano and passionate artistry, Grove has won critical raves throughout the United States and Europe for her distinguished portrayals of the heroines of German and Italian opera.

Grove's roles at the Metropolitan Opera have included Erda in "The Ring Cycle," Magdalene in "The Master Singers of Nuremburg" and Emilia in "Otello," all under James Levine; Madelon in "Andrea Chenier," opposite Placido Domingo; Pantalis in Mefistofele"; and Mary in "Der Fliegende Holländer," conducted by Valery Gergiev.

Her Lyric Opera of Chicago debut was as Erda under Sir Andrew Davis. In Europe, she made her Paris debut as the Haushälterin in "The Silent Woman" at the Théâtre du Châtelet and at the Netherlands Opera as the Deaconess in "King Roger." Grove sang her first Ulrica in "The Masked Ball" with the Welsh National Opera.

During the 2005-06 season, Grove added to her list of Verdi roles with her first performances of Preziosilla in "The Force of Destiny" with the San Francisco Opera. She returned to the Metropolitan Opera for Margaret in "Wozzeck" and repeated her acclaimed Amneris in "Aida" at the Opera Pacifica and Cieca in "La Gioconda" at the Teatro Municipal in Santiago, Chile.

Grove collaborates regularly with the world's leading orchestras and conductors. She has performed Beethoven's Ninth Symphony with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic, National Symphony, Atlanta Symphony, Houston Symphony and Detroit Symphony.

Her recordings include Ulrica on a Chandos recording of Verdi's "A Masked Ball," Auntie in "Peter Grimes" on the LSO Live label, and the Ominscient Mussel in "The Egyptian Helen" opposite Deborah Voigt on Teldec with the American Symphony Orchestra. As a member of the Houston Grand Opera Studio, she sang Tisbe in "Cinderella" opposite Cecilia Bartoli, which was released by Decca/London.

Ron Anderson, chair of the SFA School of Music, said more than 200 people are expected for the event featuring performances by the SFA Wind Ensemble, A Cappella Choir, Swingin' Axes jazz band and Opera Workshop. Also performing will be three student performers vying for the President's Award, which is given to the school's outstanding recitalist of the year. Dr. Gary Wurtz, SFA assistant professor of music, will serve as master of ceremonies.

"Following the banquet, guests will dance the night away to great swing music of the '30s and '40s provided by Tom Houston's Dance Combo," said Anderson.

The Extravaganza 19 Awards Dinner begins at 6:30 p.m., and the deadline for reservations is Wednesday, April 19. For tickets or more information, call the Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407.