Johnson County Community College
Press Release

College Information and Publications
913-469-8500
Julie Haas, Director, ext. 3120
Peggy Graham, Writer, ext. 3425
Tyler Cundith, Sports Information Director, ext. 3122

2/25/08
Story by Peggy Graham

Lyric Arts Trio Performs at JCCC

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – The Lyric Arts Trio will perform at noon Monday, March 24, in the Recital Hall of the Carlsen Center at Johnson County Community College as part of the fall Ruel Joyce Series, which features Kansas City artists in free classical music concerts. The ensemble is composed of Suzanne Hillis Ackin, soprano, Elena Lence Talley, clarinet, and Daniel Velicer, piano.

Lyric Arts Trio: left to right: Elena Lence Talley, Daniel Velicer, Suzanne Hillis Ackin

Ackin is a frequent performer with the Lyric Opera of Kansas City. She has performed with the Dorian Opera Theatre, Fort Worth Opera, Cincinnati Opera and Opera Theatre of St. Louis. She is also a featured soloist with regional orchestras and chamber ensembles, including the Philharmonia of Greater Kansas City.

• Talley performs frequently with the Kansas City Symphony, where she is also music librarian. Talley has performed with the Lyric Opera Orchestra of Kansas City, Missouri Symphony, Kansas City Camerata and Kansas City Chamber Orchestra.
• Velicer attended Cornell and Rice universities where he received a master's degree in piano chamber music and accompanying. A former instructor at the University of the Pacific Conservatory of Music, he now resides in Kansas City and teaches at the Music/Arts Institute and performs with the Kansas City Symphony and Lyric Opera of Kansas City Education Program.

The spring 2008 Ruel Joyce Recital Series concludes with Tim Timmons, saxophone, and Patricia Higdon, piano, at noon Monday, March 31, in the Recital Hall of the Carlsen Center.

The series is named for Ruel Joyce, a longtime jazz bassist who headed the local musicians federation from 1977 until his death in 1989. The concerts are cosponsored by the JCCC humanities and music departments, Community Services and the Richard J. Stern Foundation for the Arts. Admission is free and open to the public. Seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, call 913-469-8500, ext. 3605.