VALLEY CITY (VCSU) – The Valley City State University music department presents an evening recital by Daryn Imani Nowlin, mezzo-soprano, October 15 at the Larry J. Robinson Center for the Arts.

Nowlin is a rising professional in the music world and will be at VCSU for an afternoon masterclass followed by a free public recital at 7 p.m. Attendees can expect a night of musical theater, art song, and operatic selections during Nowlin’s recital.

Raised in Lamoni, Iowa, she received her bachelor’s in arts from Graceland University with degrees in both vocal performance and English, with a minor in creative writing.  She pursued a master’s in music degree from the University of Western Ontario. Her performance experience includes Cinderella from La Cenerentola, the Witch from Hansel and Gretel, La Ciesca and the Notaio from Gianni Schicchi, and Zulma from L’italiana in Algeri.

Nowlin was a resident artist for Opérafest Toronto and a Young Smith Resident Artist for Cedar Rapids Opera. She was a winner of the Marista Brookes Concerto Competition that culminated in a performance of Wagner’s Wesendonck Lieder with the Western Symphony Orchestra. She was a London Opera Guild scholarship recipient, and was granted the Ralph Appelmann, Irma Cooper Award as the winner of the 2024 NATS Regionals Competition. She also received the honor of being nominated for the Forest City London Music Awards in the category for Classical Music.

In addition to opera, Daryn also has a performance background in the theater. While attending Graceland University, she portrayed Velma Kelly in Chicago, Molly Jensen in Ghost, Heather Duke in The Heathers, Haimon in Antigone, and John Powell in Men on Boats. For her English Senior Thesis, she wrote, directed, and acted in an original one act mini-musical, All Eyes on the Bar. Daryn is actively auditioning for opera companies all over the country and is looking forward to competing in the Metropolitan Laffont Competition this coming January.

The post VCSU Music Welcomes Daryn Imani Nowlin for Guest Recital appeared first on Valley City State University.