(COLUMBIA, Tenn. - March 9, 2016) - - - At 5 p.m. Monday, March 21, Columbia State Community College will host Austin Peay State University students Joshua Lindsay and Justin Fitch as they perform a musical recital in the Cherry Theater.

"We are happy to host such talented students from Austin Peay, because it provides an opportunity for them to perform for the community, outside their typical performance venue," said Emily Gaskill, Columbia State associate professor of music. "Columbia State students also have the chance to experience a vocal musical performance, something that many Columbia State students have not witnessed. It is a great way for our music departments to stay connected."

Lindsay will perform a graduate vocal recital, accompanied by pianist Fitch. The program features a variety of classical repertoire from several centuries and includes music by composers Henry Purcell, Claude Debussy, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Modest Mussorgsky, Manuel de Falla and Hugo Wolf, among others.

Lindsay earned a bachelor's degree in music composition in 2011 from APSU where he is currently pursuing a Master of Music degree in vocal performance. He has performed with several of APSU's choral ensembles as well as Opera Theatre.

Lindsay has performed in the Nashville Opera and as a soloist with the Nashville Symphony Orchestra and the Nashville Philharmonic Orchestra. He has performed significant roles in opera productions and currently plays multiple roles in Lee Hoiby's 20th century chamber opera, "This is the Rill Speaking."

Fitch is a recent graduate of APSU with a degree in piano performance. He has been active in the APSU opera and has served as a vocal coach and harpsichordist in musical productions. He is the recipient of numerous scholarships including the 2014 Presser Scholarship.

Fitch teaches piano and voice through the Madison Street Music and Arts Academy and works as a staff pianist at his alma mater in the departments of music, theatre and dance. He has accompanied numerous vocal recitals for students and faculty, premiered George Mabry's music drama, "Voices" in 2015, and recently performed a Russian song concert at APSU and Middle Tennessee State University.

The Cherry Theater is in the Waymon L. Hickman Building on the Columbia Campus, located at 1665 Hampshire Pike. The concert is free and open to the public and is sponsored by Columbia State's Department of Music.

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, one of the largest higher education systems 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.