This program segment is generously sponsored by an anonymous donor
C.P.E Bach
Recit: "Herr, nimm dies Rühmen an" from Meine Seele erhebt den Herrn, H819
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Kaitlyn Townsend, mezzo-soprano
Tracey Schimmel Reed, piano
Johann Sebastian Bach
Recit: “O selger Christ, der allzeit seinen Willen”
Aria: "Mit allem, was ich hab und bin" from Alles nur nach Gottes Willen, BWV 72
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Kaitlyn Townsend, mezzo-soprano
Tracey Schimmel Reed, piano
Johann Christian Bach
"Chromatic Fugue on Bach," W. YA 50
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Tracey Schimmel Reed, piano
C.P.E Bach
"Suscepit Israel” from Magnificat
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Kaitlyn Townsend, mezzo-soprano
Tracey Schimmel Reed, piano
Johann Christian Bach
Gratias Agimus from Gloria in G Major
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Kaitlyn Townsend, mezzo-soprano
Tracey Schimmel Reed, piano
Kaitlyn Townsend is regarded highly for her work with Baroque and early music. Noteworthy appearances include performing with The Governor’s Musick in Colonial Williamsburg, soloist for Dan Forrest’s Requiem for the Living (Shenandoah Valley Choral Society), and as the mezzo-soprano soloist for Vivaldi’s Gloria in D major (Mary Baldwin University, Dr. Craig Robertson, conductor).
Other recent solo appearances have featured Ms. Townsend as a soloist with the Baroque Performance Institute (Oberlin, OH), the Baroque Opera Workshop (Queens, NY; with Christa Patton, conductor) Virginia Baroque Academy (with Arthur Haas) and in the role of Susan in Alice Parker’s opera, Singers Glen. Ms. Townsend performs regularly with Rocktown Choral Artists (Douglas Byler, conductor) and Staunton’s Bach Around the Clock Festival Choir (Paul Weber, conductor). Ms. Townsend has also performed with Richmond’s Red Letter Consort (Charles Humphries, conductor) and Madison Baroque (with Dr. Jon Gibson).
A graduate of the James Madison University's School of Music, Ms. Townsend has studied privately with Brenda K. Witmer, Dr. Carrie Stevens and Kathy Gardner. Vocal coaches have included Dame Emma Kirkby, James Taylor, Dan Taylor, Julianne Baird, Judith Malafronte, and Barbara Hollinshead.
Pianist Tracey Schimmel Reed enjoys an active career as a collaborative performer in the Shenandoah Valley and beyond. She holds the principal pianist position with the acclaimed Shenandoah Valley Children’s Choir, most recently performing at Carnegie Hall for the 2023 International Youth Choir Festival. Ms. Reed has also performed regularly for National Association for Teachers of Singing conferences, the Southeast Horn Workshop, the Mid-Atlantic Flute Convention, and the James Madison University Kodály Institute.
A regular at music festivals, Ms. Reed has shared the stages of the Staunton Music Festival, the Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival, and the Forbes Center for the Performing Arts, home to JMU's Contemporary Music Festival. Opera credits include Mozart's Der Schauspieldirektor, Mozart's Die Zauberflöte, and Menotti's Amahl and the Night Visitors.
Ms. Reed received her music degrees from James Madison University’s School of Music: a B.M. in Collaborative Piano Performance and Coaching, and a Masters of Music in Piano Performance, studying with piano professors Drs. Lori Piitz and Gabriel Dobner.
During the school year, Ms. Reed’s work involves rehearsing, coaching and performing with musicians of all levels, particularly undergraduate and graduate Music majors studying at JMU’s School of Music. Recitals performed on the Forbes stages feature a wide array of compositions, stretching from Baroque to Contemporary music styles, vocal as well as instrumental.
Along with coaching and performing, Ms. Reed has collaborated with JMU’s choral ensembles The Madison Singers and JMU/ VMRC’s Intergenerational Choir. Ms. Reed is also honored to have served as a founding pianist with the Crozet Chorus, an inclusive, intergenerational community choir.