Walter Swan to share his musical journey

Date: December 21
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Place: Heritage House
    201 Downing Street
    Hazlehurst

By Dr. Janet Schriver, Copiah County Dept. of Cultural Affairs

When we think of successful graduates from Hazlehurst High School, we usually go through a list of outstanding athletes, but during this holiday season as part of the Smithsonian Exhibition series, we are taking the opportunity to honor a 37-year-old Hazlehurst High School Graduate who found his way into the world of opera and music.  Dr. Walter Swan will be coming home for the holidays through a grant funded through the MS Humanities Council.

The singer, currently an assistant professor at Elizabeth City State University in Elizabeth City, North Carolina (ECSU), will bring home some interesting viewpoints about music and success.  Dr. Swan believes that music is as much psychological as physical and a performer has to feel the music and know the composer and the history behind the song to be really good.

In the lecture The Journey Within: An Outlet through Artistic Expression that Dr. Swan will deliver at Heritage House on December 21 at 7:00 p.m., the Hazlehurst native will also be bringing home advice and encouragement to students who live in small Mississippi towns on how to become successful regardless of career goals.

Swan was a voice professor at Old Dominion University and Hampton University. He performed with the Symphony Orchestra of Virginia Beach and the Virginia Opera before taking a teaching post at ECSU last year.

For more information call:  601-894-2100