School of Music and Dance faculty members Laurinda Nikkel, soprano, and Richard Thompson, piano, will perform "American Voices," a program of American composers, at 2 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 8, in Smith Recital Hall. Admission is free.

Nikkel will perform original works by Thompson, as well as compositions of Samuel Barber, Gene DePaul and Ricky Ian Gordon.

About Nikkel

She has excelled in a wide range of operatic roles with leading companies throughout the United States and holds the distinction of having sung professionally in every state, with the exception of Alaska. In 2005, Nikkel was appointed coordinator of the Voice Department at SDSU, where she oversees vocal programs in both the School of Music and Dance and the prestigious MFA program in the School of Theatre, Television and Film.

Her students have been award winners in the Metropolitan Opera Auditions, The National Association of Teachers of Singing Young Artist Competition and The Virginia Hawk Young Artist Competition, among others. Nikkel is a recognized master class technician in both classical and musical theater techniques and has performed art song recitals throughout the United States and Canada. 

About Thompson

Thompson, professor of music, teaches jazz performance and history, and music theory. He performs frequently in both jazz and classical concerts, as a soloist, as well as with many chamber groups, including his jazz quartet, Mirage. As an accomplished composer, Thompson’s works combine European and African-American styles, and are essentially jazz in nature.