The Federation of Art Song: "Folklore", An Exploration of Folk Music

Sepehr and Alexandra Henderson. Courtesy of FAS.
This recital will feature a diverse program of folk music representing a variety of cultures across the globe. In reference to the historical practice of intimate, personal song concerts, this recital is an exploration into the sound world that has been passed on to us orally by previous generations. The repertoire will include elements of spontaneous improvisation, as well as fully composed music, and traditional arrangements of folk tunes to mimic the natural progression of folk music throughout history.
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We are pleased to present Alexandra Henderson and Sepehr in concert at the Zimmerli Art Museum.
Concerts are free and open to the public, but seating is limited. Please RVSP via FAS.
Pre-register here for free visitor parking, which allows you to park in Lots 16, 26, 30, and College Avenue Deck. Until this process is completed, your vehicle is not registered and you may receive a citation. Special event parking and special event permits are only for visitors to the university and does not include free metered parking. Faculty, staff, and students must park only in lots where they are authorized to park. Please note, this is a unique link for this event and not valid for any other dates or events.
- For directions to campus parking lots, search by the lot number on the Rutgers map.
- Lot 16 is the closest to the Zimmerli, located behind the museum. For directions, you also may use the address 536 George Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, which is the building located next to the lot entrance.
About the Performers
Alexandra Henderson, a Boston-based soprano, is a versatile and experienced performing artist. As seen in the New York Times, Alexandra was featured in the world premier of Robert Paterson’s operatic work New York Stories at Scorca Hall in New York City. Recently, Alexandra reprised her role of “The Governess” in Benjamin Britten’s Turn of the Screw with Opera Roanoke under Maestro Steven White, a role which she has previously performed with the Janiec Opera Company, and during her Master’s Degree at the New England Conservatory. An avid performer of art song repertoire, Alexandra was recently featured in the Federation of the Art Song finalists’ recital with collaborator Sepehr Davallou. As a recipient of numerous prizes throughout her career, Alexandra is honored to have recently been named the winner of the John Alexander National Vocal Competition and the Boston District of the Metropolitan Opera’s Laffont Competition. Alexandra holds a Master’s Degree in Vocal Performance from the New England Conservatory where she received the Douglas Smith Scholarship for Voice. In addition to her performance career, Alexandra has a thriving teaching studio where she shares her love of music with over thirty private students.
Sepehr is a musician, pianist, vocal coach and opera repetiteur based in the Boston area. He has served as an assistant music director for the production of Gluck's Orfeo at NEMPAC, and worked as a pianist on such productions as Britten's "Midsummer Night's Dream" at Miami Music Festival, "Die Fledermaus" at the New England Conservatory and "Die Zauberflöte" at NEC and also Maryland Opera Studio. He has attended the prestigious music festival Aspen Music Festival and School and has participated in "Dandelion Opera Institute" and "Collaborative Pianist Institute" where he got to work with renowned artists of the field such as Martin Katz, Kathy Kelly and Warren Jones. His mentors and teachers are Cameron Stowe, JJ Penna, Tanya Blaich and Rita Sloan. Outside his life as a musician, he is an introverted coffee lover, reader and loves to hike and camp and be outdoors.
About FAS
Believing strongly in the value of songs of all genres sung in classical style, the Federation of the Art Song (FAS) helps deserving singers and collaborative pianists to develop their artistic abilities and identities. Their goal is to educate the public on the expanding catalogue of song repertoire from a multitude of sources and communities, thus benefitting audiences and artists alike. For more information, visit www.fasong.org/.