The Peru Gazette

PLATTSBURGH, NY – The Strand Center for the Arts is thrilled to host a lunchtime music series in its Main Gallery starting in March, 2016 and featuring music by SUNY Plattsburgh students. In the first installment, Ayrice Wilson and Daniel De Cranie-Pierre will demonstrate their prodigious vocal talents. Dr. Karen Becker, chair of the Department of Music at SUNY Plattsburgh, will accompany the vocalists on piano. This upcoming free event will take place in The Strand Center Main Gallery on Friday, March 25 from 1:00-2:00 pm.

Ayrice Wilson has been involved in music for most of her life, but she began her music studies at SUNY Plattsburgh just two years ago. Prior to Plattsburgh, she was a member and soloist of Trinidad and Tobago’s leading choir, The Marionettes Chorale. The Marionettes gave Wilson her first taste of opera as “Frasquita” in Georges Bizet’s Carmen in 2011. She then went on to play “Mrs. Honeybell” in Mozart’s The Impresario, and “Adele” in Strauss’s Die Fledermaus. In 2014 she sang the role of “Mother” in Amahl and the Night Visitors by Gian Carlo Menotti, a joint choral production of Cardinal Singers and College Chorale; and she placed first in the Classical Music Development Foundation of Trinidad and Tobago’s Classical Vocal Competition. In 2015 she performed the role of “Ellen” in the Music and Theater Department’s co-production of Oklahoma! After graduation, Wilson plans to return home to help rejuvenate the opera culture in Trinidad and Tobago and to return to the US to pursue a master’s degree in vocal performance.

Daniel De Cranie-Pierre began his musical journey at Sixth Form Government School/Polytechnic Institute, where, at the age of 18, he had his first experience being part of a choir. After beginning formal training, he went on to win three titles at the 2012 Trinidad and Tobago Music Festival: Boys 16-19 Vocal Solo overall winner, 16-19 Religious Contemporary solo overall winner, and Male Baritone Solo north zone winner. In addition, since his arrival at SUNY Plattsburgh in 2013, De Cranie-Pierre has attained first place in the Classical Music Development Foundation of Trinidad and Tobago’s Classical Vocal Competition in 2015. While at SUNY Plattsburgh, Daniel was also given the opportunity to perform roles such as “Curly” in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!, “King Melchior” in Gian Carlo Menotti’s opera in one act,  Amahl and the Night Visitors, and “Mitch Mahoney” in the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Most recently, De Cranie-Pierre was the Richard Maltby, Jr. Award-winner for Musical Theatre Excellence at the Region 1 Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. He has received a full scholarship from KCACTF to attend the Broadway Theatre Project Summer Institute 2016, “the world’s most prestigious musical theatre arts education program for college students” (Playbill). Under an additional scholarship, Daniel will attend the KCACTF National Festival in Washington, D.C. this April. After graduation, De Cranie-Pierre plans to attend graduate school to attain a master’s degree in vocal performance. He has ambitions of returning to his home country, Trinidad and Tobago, to guide those who wish to study music at a higher level.

Museum Coordinator David Monette believes the new Brown-Bag Sessions will further emphasize and unify the arts in our region, “It is very exciting for us. By connecting two disciplines of the arts, it’s a wonderful way to engage more people with our gallery. And starting it off with the singing talents of these two students is a fantastic way to do that. ”

The concert will commence in The Strand Center Main Gallery at 23 Brinkerhoff Street in Plattsburgh on March 25, 2016 from 1:00 to 2:00 PM and is free and open to the public. Those who attend the concert are encouraged to bring their lunches along with them, as café seating will be available to enjoy the music and the artwork. Regular gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday from 10 am to 5 pm and Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm; all Box Office sales should be directed to the Strand Center Theatre at 25 Brinkerhoff Street. For more information on these exhibits, upcoming events, concerts or classes happening at The Strand Center for the Arts please call 518-563-1604 or visit www.strandcenter.org.

The Strand Center for the Arts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing a high caliber arts center and theatre, exposing the community to the best of visual arts, music, dance, and theatre.  The SCA is supported by the New York State Council of the Arts (NYSCA).

Platinum Circle Sponsors for The Strand Center of the Arts are The University of Vermont Health Network, Champlain Valley Physician’s Hospital, Meadowbrook Healthcare, and Twinstate Technologies. Gold Sponsors for the Strand Center for the Arts are Northern Insuring/Northern Benefits, Boire Benner Group, Best Western Plus – The Inn at Smithfield, WPTZ – Channel 5, Clute Wealth Management, and Jeffords Steel and Engineering Company.