POSTPONED: Talented local women present recital at SIC

Melody Ossi and Madeline Rogers will perform at the George T. Dennis Visual and Performance Arts auditorium at Southeastern Illinois College 2 p.m. Sunday, March 15 as part of the college's Cultural Arts Series.

The concert originally scheduled for Feb. 22 was postponed due to winter weather.

Ossi is a noted vocal artist from Harrisburg and Rogers, an Eldorado native is a 17 year old prodigy currently pursuing a degree in piano performance at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.

Ossi graduated from Harrisburg High School in 1978 and attended Webster University in St. Louis.

"I've been singing since I was three, when I performed at my grandmothers church," Ossi said. "I've always loved singing."

After 34 years of performing mostly opera, Ossi has returned to Harrisburg to live. In the course of her career, Ossi has performed with the Opera Theater of St. Louis, The Opera Company of Boston, The Opera Company of Tampa, Fla., and was a soloist with The Boston Pops Orchestra. Currently Ossi is the Musical Director at the Harrisburg Middle School and Choir Director at the United Methodist Church in Harrisburg.

Rogers is an Eldorado native who is making quite a sensation among the musical students at SIUC. At gifted pianist at 17, Rogers has recently won first place in the SIUC music department Concerto Completion, where she competed against undergraduate and graduate students for the win. Rogers is music director at First Presbyterian Church of Harrisburg.

"I've worked with her once before," Ossi said. "She is just a phenomenal artist."

The two musicians will present a recital starting at 2 p.m. March 15 at SIC and Ossi promises a "fun afternoon."

"We will do a couple of opera pieces and the rest of the performance will be musical theater numbers that people will recognize and some fun songs for the audience to enjoy," Ossi said.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students and are available at the door.