(COLUMBIA, Tenn. - Feb. 6, 2014) - - - Columbia State Community College will host Austin Peay State University graduate student, Anna Atwater as she presents a recital of classical songs in the Cherry Theater Feb. 10 at 4 p.m.

Atwater is currently completing her master's degree in music and vocal performance at APSU, where she has also participated in the chamber choir, Governor's Singers and opera workshops. She received her bachelor's degree in music education from the State University of New York at Fredonia in May 2012, where she participated in chamber choir, college choir, Masterworks Chorus, vocal jazz ensemble, Student Opera Theatre Association opera scenes, and other operas, including Benjamin Britten's "The Turn of the Screw." Outside of school, Atwater has attended the Crittenden Opera Studio Summer Workshop in Washington, D.C.

Atwater will be accompanied on the piano by Anne Glass, professor of music at APSU. Glass holds a master's degree from Vanderbilt University's George Peabody College. She has been associated with the APSU music department since 1962 and has been a full-time member of the faculty since 1975. She is active as a piano accompanist for APSU faculty as well as a church organist in Clarksville.

This classical music program promises to be educational as well as entertaining. Included are songs by George Frederic Handel, Franz Schubert, Richard Strauss and Claude Debussy. The program also features an operatic aria from "Die Fledermaus" by Johann Strauss and "Four Chinese Love Poems" by American composer Emma Lou Diemer.

The event is co-sponsored by the Lyceum Committee and the music department. The Cherry Theater is in the Waymon L. Hickman building on the Columbia campus, located at 1665 Hampshire Pike. The recital is free and open to the public.

Columbia State is a two-year college, serving a nine-county area in southern Middle Tennessee with locations in Columbia, Franklin, Lawrenceburg, Lewisburg and Clifton. As Tennessee's first community college, Columbia State is committed to increasing access and enhancing diversity at all five campuses. Columbia State is a member of the Tennessee Board of Regents, the sixth largest higher education system in the nation. For more information, please visit www.columbiastate.edu.

Tennessee's Community Colleges is a system of 13 colleges offering a high-quality, affordable, convenient and personal education to prepare students to achieve their educational and career goals in two years or less. We offer associate degree and certificate programs, workforce development programs and transfer pathways to four-year degrees. For more information, please visit us online at tncommunitycolleges.org.

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