A classic twist will come to Austin in late August when coloratura soprano Elizabeth Hunter Ashley and pianist/composer Melinda Morse stop by for the annual fundraiser for Austin Public Schools Music Programs on behalf of Blair Lawhead.
Elizabeth Hunter Ashley
The duo will perform at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. in the Peace Garden at Hormel Historic Home for the annual Blair Lawhead Memorial Concert. The shows are also part of a tour of their home states, sharing their love of music.
Ashley and Morse have worked together for over 24 years in orchestras, concerts and philanthropic events through Morse’s original compositions.
Ashley also performs Gershwin and Barber classics as well as cabaret numbers such as “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore” and “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”.
Tickets for the show only are $15 and tickets including the show, food and drinks are $25. The catering option will include a nice personal cut of charcuterie and a glass of wine. Tickets can be purchased by visiting: www.hormelhistorichome.org and clicking on “Calendar/tickets”.
Ashley is originally from Austin and was previously Miss Austin in 1984 as well as a recipient of the Austin Music Hall of Fame.
This year she was named Woman of the Year in Music by the Top 100 Registry and was the 2021 recipient of CorporateLiveWire California’s prestigious Vocal Coach of the Year. She was also named Best of Danville Vocal Instructor for the California Business Hall of Fame for three consecutive years in 2018-2020.
Melinda Morse
Morse grew up in Arkansas in a family of six, then earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas, where she also received the Fleming Music Award for Outstanding Music Student.
Morse later earned a Master of Music degree in applied piano from Memphis State University, while teaching in public schools. She retired after 37 years as a public school teacher and continued her piano studies from her home in the San Francisco Bay Area.
To listen to Ashley, visit: www.youtube.com/c/ElizabethHunterAshley.
