Missouri State University and the Department of Music will host a benefit recital for Rescue One at 7:30 p.m. March 9 in Ellis Hall’s C. Minor Recital Hall on the Springfield campus.

“Paw and Tail: A Benefit Concert for Rescue One” is free and open to the public. Representatives from Rescue One will be available to provide information about pet adoption and collect donations.

Mezzo-soprano Dr. Loralee Songer, accompanied by Assistant Professor Perry Mears on piano, will perform a variety of animal-themed songs. Professor Jill Heyboer will join them to play the flute during Andre Previn’s “The Giraffes go to Hamburg.”

Responsible animal care

Rescue One is a foster-based animal rescue organization in Springfield, Missouri, according to Rebekah Redwing, development director at Rescue One.

“While our goal is always to help animals find loving homes, we also work to fill critical gaps in services for animals in our community,” Redwing noted. “This includes our Emergency Rescue Team that partners with law enforcement, our Outreach Program that provides free food, vaccines, and spay/neuter assistance for low-income families, our SafePet program, which provides temporary fostering for victims of domestic violence, and more.”

Redwing said she felt honored that Missouri State selected Rescue One for their benefit recital. “We are hopeful this event will help raise awareness about the importance of responsible animal care.”

Animal-themed repertoire

The recital is built off the song cycle “Paw and Tail” by Juliana Hall and Caitlin Vincent. “The songs follow the life of a beloved pet dog, beginning with adoption,” according to Mears.

“When we found out about this new work, we wanted to find a context to perform it,” Mears said. “It made sense that a concert conceived around songs promoting pet adoption should benefit an organization involved in that process.”

Next, the duo needed to select the remaining repertoire.

“We needed more music to pair with ‘Paw and Tail,’” Songer said. “I thought of Andre Previn’s ‘The Giraffes Go to Hamburg’ simply because I’ve always wanted to perform it and it mentions giraffes. We then realized we had a theme and moved forward with choosing other songs about animals.”

While the recital’s centerpiece is “Paw and Tail,” other performances are planned, Mears said. These include selections from “Genevieve’s Cats,” composed by Professor Mike Murray. In addition, Songer will perform Jake Heggie’s “Sophie’s Song,” an ode to a beloved dog named Sophie.

Songer will also hold a masterclass for Missouri State’s voice students on 12:30 p.m. March 10 in Hamra Hall.

Years-long professional partnership

Mears and Songer have performed together since 2009 as a singer-pianist duo. They made their Carnegie Hall recital debut together in 2019, premiering ‘Little Black Book,’ composed by Missouri State alumna Susan LaBarr.

Songer’s recital career has led to working with some of today’s most prolific coaches and composers: Jake Heggie, John Musto, Libby Larsen, William Bolcom, Margo Garrett, Graham Johnson and Martin Katz, among others. Recently, she reprised the role of Lucille Frank in “Parade” with the Revival Theatre Company and portrayed Jackie Kennedy in the world premiere of “Echoes from a Memory” at The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza in Dallas, Texas. Songer was also a vocal fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center in 2014.

Connecting art and community

Songer is an active recitalist, opera and oratorio performer, conductor and self-described “champion of art song.”

“I am a lover of animals, especially dogs, so I hope that the recital will raise funds and awareness for Rescue One,” Songer said. “Animal rescues are an important part of communities, and they need volunteers and donors to sustain their work.

“I’m honored to be part of an event that will hopefully demonstrate excellence in the arts, as well as benefit the community,” Songer said.

“I believe that community connections are at the heart of public affairs,” Mears added. “This recital emphasizes those connections. I also find it so valuable for our students to see connections between their art and other community needs and organizations.”

Mark your calendar