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����ɬ voice faculty Dean Southern has been named Executive Director of Art Song Festival, which will make a return to ����ɬ on May 14, 2017 with a recital by Metropolitan Opera bass-baritone Eric Owens and pianist Myra Huang. Art Song Festival was originally founded in 1985 at ����ɬ by George Vassos, who taught at the Institute for 50 years, 27 of those years serving as head of the voice department.

“Art song is a vibrant, yet intimate art form, which requires stewardship to ensure quality performances for future generations,” says Southern. “George understood this when he created the Festival.” Southern explains that next full festival will be held in 2018, at which ten singer-pianist teams will be chosen from national auditions to perform in master classes with the festival artists, who present full recitals during the week. The event culminates in a recital by the festival teams. 

Last year’s artists included mezzo-soprano Susan Graham, baritone Edwin Crossley-Moore and pianists Bradley Moore and Jason Paul Peterson and six of last year’s teams included either ����ɬ students or alumni.

For ticketing information about this year’s Art Song recital on May 14 at ����ɬ, visit or call 216-373-9353.