FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE					March 9, 1995
Ben Holt Memorial Concert Series Features George Shirley, Tenor
	Renowned tenor George Shirley will present a recital as part of
the Ben Holt Memorial Concert Series Friday, March 31 at 8 p.m. in the
Lawrence Memorial Chapel.  Pianist Christina Dahl will accompany.  Tickets
for the event, at $10 for adults and $5 for seniors and students, are
available from the Lawrence box office, 115 S. Drew St., 12:30-5:30 p.m.,
Monday-Saturday.  Call 832-6749 for further information, or to charge
tickets to Visa, Mastercard, or American Express.
	Mr. Shirley's program, entitled "The Music of Black Folk," will
include early African and spiritual tunes, several works by classical
composer Saint-Georges, and a number of works by contemporary
African-American composers.  
	One of America's most versatile tenors, George Shirley is in
demand nationally and internationally as performer, teacher, and lecturer. 
He has won international acclaim for his performances with the
Metropolitan Opera, Royal Opera at Covent Garden, Deutsche Oper in Berlin,
Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires, New York City Opera, Scottish Opera, Chicago
Lyric Opera, and Glyndebourne Festival, among others.  In total, Mr.
Shirley has performed over 80 operatic roles in his 35-year career, as
well as oratorio and concert literature.  His 1968 performance in Mozart's
Cosi Fan Tutte earned Shirley a Grammy Award.  He 
was the first black tenor and second African-American male to sing leading
roles with the Metropolitan Opera, where he remained for eleven years as a
leading artist.  His recent performances include the role of Herod Antipas
in Stauss' Salome with the Greater Buffalo Opera, and a benefit concert
with renowned baritones Robert McFerrin Sr. and William Warfield at Howard
University in Washington.  Currently The Joseph Edgar Maddy Distinguished
University Professor of Music at the University of Michigan, Shirley has
also served as a Distinguished Scholar-Teacher at the University of
Maryland, College Park.   
	The Ben Holt Memorial Concert Series was established in 1992 by
Dr. Dominique-Ren de Lerma, currently Visiting Professor of Music at the
Lawrence Conservatory.  Metropolitan Opera baritone Ben Holt died at the
age of 34 from cancer.  By the time of his death, he had accumulated
numerous accolades as a performer of extraordinary artistry, further
distinguished by his intense social concerns.  The concert series
established in his name provides performance opportunities on invitation
to outstanding young professional minority artists, normally under the age
of 35, who have promise of international careers.  Of equal importance is
the performance of works by minority composers. 


CONTACT:	John Zimmer, Public Events Manager (414) 832-6589