McNeese Hosts Johnnie Bankens and Michael Borowitz for Guest Recital

The McNeese State University W.A. and Dorothy Hanna Department of Performing Arts will present a recital featuring alumnus Johnnie Bankens, bass-baritone, and pianist Michael Borowitz at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28, in Tritico Theatre.

This free program will include works by such composers as Schubert, Debussy, Barber and Poulenc.

A native of Sulphur, Bankens has performed a wide variety of operatic roles on national and international stages the Nevada Opera, San Diego Opera, Louisiana State University Opera and Opéra Louisiane and has toured with the Montefeltro Festival in Italy and San Marino. He has also performed operatic and musical theatre roles in “Roméo et Juliette,” “Figaro,” “The Little Shop of Horrors” and “A Little Night Music,” and as a bass soloist on the New York City concert stage in works by Mozart, Brahms and Handel.

Borowitz is currently in his 10th year as music director and associate professor of LSU opera and his eighth season as artistic director with Opéra Louisiane. He has been a guest conductor for La Musica Lirica, Des Moines Metro Opera, Baltimore Concert Opera, Eastman School of Music, Opera Delaware and the LSU Symphony Orchestra, as well as assistant conductor with The Metropolitan Opera, Indianapolis Opera and Cleveland Opera.

Persons needing accommodations as provided by the Americans with Disabilities Act should contact the ADA Coordinator at 337-475-5428, voice; 337-475-5960, fax; 337-562-4227, TDD/TTY, hearing impaired; or by email at cdo@mcneese.edu.