Contact Us
Music Department is part of the College of Arts & Sciences
501-279-4343
Fax: 501-279-4086
Mailing address:
Harding University
Music Department
HU 10767
Searcy, AR 72149-5615
The Belle Canto women's choir is Harding's newest ensemble. Beginning in the fall of 2011, the inaugural semester included 60 women, made up of music majors and non-majors. The group performs secular and sacred pieces in concerts both on and off campus. Belle Canto rehearses Tuesday and Thursdays at noon.
Dr. Kelly Neill is an associate professor at Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas, where he conducts Belle Canto, Concert Choir, and Chamber Singers. He has sung professionally with the Robert Shaw Festival Singers, the Kansas City Chorale, Conspirare, and the Santa Fe Desert Chorale. As a soloist, he has performed with the Pittsburgh Bach Choir, Abilene Philharmonic and done leading roles with the Abilene Opera Association and the UMKC Conservatory. Prior to teaching at Harding, Kelly lived in Colorado where he taught vocal and instrumental public school music and conducted the Valley Symphony Orchestra Chorus. Kelly is a graduate of Abilene Christian University, Baylor University, and the University of Missouri--Kansas City Conservatory. He also serves as the preacher for the Olyphant Church of Christ.
Auditions for Belle Canto are held during the four days before classes begin in August.
It is not necessary to prepare anything for the choral audition. We'll ask you to sing through "My Country, 'tis of Thee" a few times in different keys (music and words will be provided); you'll sing some five-note scales with piano accompaniment; you'll do a little sight-reading (you may use solfege syllables or numbers if you like, but no special technique is required); and we'll give you a short tonal memory test in which you'll sing back a few notes we play for you.
After auditions, we'll assign you to the singing group which we feel is best for you—the Chorus, Concert Choir, or Belle Canto.
If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Neill at kneill@harding.edu or 501-279-4469
Game Night
Thursday, Jan. 16 from 6:00-7:30 p.m.
Sectional and Dress Fitting Night
Monday, Jan. 27 from 7-8:30 p.m.
Trip to Remmel Church of Christ
Sunday, Feb. 16 from 4-7:30 p.m.
Trip to Olyphant Church of Christ
Sunday, Mar. 29 from 8:45 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Trip to Beebe High School
Tuesday, Mar. 31 from 10:00 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.
Concert with Concert Choir
Sunday, Apr. 19 at 7 p.m., Reynolds Recital Hall
End of Year Party
Tuesday, Apr. 28 at 12:00 p.m.
Music Department is part of the College of Arts & Sciences
501-279-4343
Fax: 501-279-4086
Mailing address:
Harding University
Music Department
HU 10767
Searcy, AR 72149-5615