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Assistant Professor of Voice Penelope Shumate
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WIU's Shumate Wins National Voice Award

November 19, 2015

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MACOMB, IL - This month, Western Illinois University Assistant Professor of Voice Penelope Shumate was recognized by The American Prize for "Excellence in the Performance of Oratorio."

The award was presented for her recent performance as the soprano soloist in Handel's "Messiah" at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center in New York City, presented by Distinguished Artists International New York.

For those recent performances of "Messiah" at Avery Fisher Hall and Carnegie Hall, Shumate received critical acclaim. The New York Times praised her performance saying, "Penelope Shumate sang the soprano solos with bell-like clarity and surpassing sweetness." The New York Concert Review stated, "Soprano Penelope Shumate was a real find for me, with a voice that has been described previously in New York Concert Review as 'radiant,' and I can see why. The clear tones were true and expressive, one of the best 'Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion' that I have ever heard live. Her 'I know that my redeemer liveth' was lovely."

Shumate returns to Carnegie Hall to perform as the soprano soloist in "Messiah" Sunday, Nov. 29, presented by Distinguished Artists International New York.


Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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