Department of Music to present organist Dennis Hay in Riceland Hall recital

Jan. 14, 2008 -- The Department of Music at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro will present an organ recital by guest artist Dennis Hay at 7:30 in Riceland Hall, Fowler Center, 201 Olympic Drive, Jonesboro, on Tuesday, Jan. 22. The concert is free and open to the public.

The concert will include performances of “Suite Gothique” by Boëllmann (1862-1897), “Fantasia et Fuga” by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), “Beneditus Op. 59 No. 9” by Max Reger (1873-1916), “Humoresque ‘L’organo Primitivo’” by Pietro Yon (1886-1943), “Troisieme Choral en la Mineur” by Cėsar Franck (1822-1890), “Tuba Tune in D Major” by C.S. Lang (1891-1972), and “Carillon de Westminster Op. 54 No. 6” by Louis Vierne (1870-1937).

Dennis Hay is the instructor in music at Arkansas Northeastern College in Blytheville. He performs frequently as a soloist and collaborative artist. He has served as the organist at First Baptist Church in Blytheville for almost thirty years. Hay has performed an annual Easter recital at First Baptist Church in Blytheville for the past several years.

Hay holds degrees from Arkansas State University and the University of North Texas and has done graduate work at the University of Memphis. He has studied organ with Ervin Dunham, Dale Peters, Charles Brown, and Gary Miller. Hay has given concerts in Missouri, Tennessee, and Arkansas.

He served as accompanist for the Arkansas State University’s Male Chorus and traveled with them to Romania for three weeks in 1975. Hay also performed as collaborative artist with Dr. Robin Dauer, French horn instructor at Arkansas State University. They recorded two CDs, “Souvenir” and “Horn Americana” of music for horn and piano. “Souvenir” features French composers such as Henri Busser, Jacques De La Presle, and Paul Bonneau, while “Horn Americana” features American composers such as Paul Holmes, Leonard Bernstein, and Quincy Porter.

Four years ago, Hay served as organist for the Southern Baptist Association’s Discipleship Week held in Glorieta, N.M. More recently, he served as harpsichordist for the Messiah Sing Along held at ASU for the past four years.

Hay was honored by being selected Distinguished Instructor of 2006 at Arkansas Northeastern College. He teaches private piano lessons at home and at the college. He is a member of the Music Teachers National Association and serves on the state level as the organization’s piano rallies chairman. Hay is also a member of the Delta Music Teachers Association and the local music organization, the Orpheus Club, where he serves at the vice president.

For more details, please call the Department of Music at (870) 972-2094.

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