This past Sunday, two recipients of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Kenan Music Scholarship performed a medley of classical pieces at the Frank H. Kenan Chapel of Landfall.

The packed chapel audience was welcomed by Tom Kenan, benefactor. The concert was the season finale, held as a part of the chapel’s Celebrating Emerging Artists series that takes places at the Kenan Chapel. Vocalists John Charles Clark and Catherine Park serenaded the audience with multiple pieces from the last three centuries.

Accompanied by Frank Zachary on piano, the two UNC-Chapel Hill School of Music graduates performed musical pieces written in a variety of languages, including Italian, Russian, German and French. With both humor and romance, the duo performed in operatic style, with solos and duets. Both vocalists gave their own renditions of a wide array of compositions; the pieces that were performed ranged from operas to concertos. From Mozart to Strauss, the song choice was certainly eclectic. Despite their youth, these emerging artists stayed true to the classical style and performed with aplomb.

Supported by a donation from the William R. Kenan Jr. Charitable Trust, the music department of UNC-Chapel Hill awards the Kenan Music Scholarship to four scholars per entering class. Kenan Music Scholars receive a full scholarship for four years covering tuition, student fees, room and board, and other expenses; plus additional support for summer research and similar activities.

With experience in opera, choral music, conducting and symphonic work, both Clark and Park have extensive resumes.

Park, a soprano, was recently awarded the UNC-Chapel Hill Opera Award for excellence in opera. She will begin graduate work this fall at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.

Recently receiving his Bachelor of Music, Clark contributed to multiple musical organizations including UNC Opera, UNC Chamber Singers, and the Pauper Players. In addition to vocal work, Clark is an avid conductor of choral music.

This fall, he will attend East Carolina University for his Master of Music.