On Wednesday, January 30, music aficionados can enjoy a free concert featuring soprano, Melanie Helton, accompanied by pianist, Judy Kabodian. The concert will be held at noon in the Presentation Room of the VisTaTech Center on Schoolcraft College’s Livonia campus.

Melanie Helton’s “dark soprano that warms the ear” (New York Times), when accompanied by Judy Kabodian on piano, is certain to enthrall the audience when they perform selections by Santoloquido, Lehar, Debussy and American composer Ricky Ian Gordon.

A noted performer as well as educator, currently an associate professor of voice (soprano) and the director of opera theatre at Michigan State University, Helton will be performing a piece commissioned and written expressly for her by American composer Ricky Ian Gordon, along with several other special selections.

Kabodian serves as accompanist for several MSU performance groups including the university’s Children’s Choir, Chorale and State Singers. She continues to be in great demand as a concert and recital accompanist, especially in the Greater Lansing area.