STEPHENVILLE, Texas — Mezzo-soprano Emily Howes-Heilman and pianist Galen Dean Peiskee will be in concert at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 28, in the Clyde H. Wells Fine Arts Center Theater on the Tarleton State University campus in Stephenville.

Admission is free.

Howes-Heilman is an Assistant Professor of voice at Sam Houston State University. She earned her doctor of music in voice performance from Florida State University, where she received the Edith S. Joel Opera Scholarship as well as the Glenys Gallaher Award and the Hannah J. Beaulieu Competition. She completed both her master’s and bachelor’s of music in voice performance at the University of Louisville, where she was the 2014 winner of the concerto competition.

She covered the role of Hannah After in Laura Kaminsky’s “As One” with Chautauqua Opera in 2018 and the mezzo role in Phillip Glass’ “Hydrogen Jukebox” in 2017. She performed works by Timothy Hoekman at Carnegie Hall along with members of the Parlance Vocal Ensemble, and she premiered Quinn Dizon’s 12 Haiku for mezzo and orchestra at the University of Louisville’s New Music Festival. 

She also has premiered several roles with Thompson Street Opera, including the Executioner in Chris Kincaid’s “Cephalophore” and Wingtip in Yvonne Freckman’s “Rootabaga Stories.” She was in the U.S. premiere of “Whiskers.” 

Peiskee has established a multifaceted career as an accomplished chamber musician, soloist, orchestral pianist, accompanist and vocal coach. He has performed all over the United States as well as in Poland, Italy, Austria, Greece, Cuba and Bolivia.

He is a member of the Emerald Trio, Trio Vivo, the Young-Peiskee flute-piano duo, the Bold City Contemporary Ensemble, and the Cerulean Trio, finalists in the 2016 Chesapeake Chamber Music Competition. 

He has performed as a soloist with the Brazos Chamber Orchestra multiple times and was the pianist for the Singing Girls of Texas for five years. He made his Carnegie Hall debut in May 2017, performing the music of Timothy Hoekman in Weill Recital Hall.

Peiskee has a doctor of music degree in collaborative piano from Florida State University, where he earned his master of music degree in accompanying. He also has acquired an artist diploma from Texas Christian University, where he earned his bachelor of music degree in piano performance, and an associate of music degree from Kilgore College. 

A founding member of The Texas A&M System, Tarleton State University is breaking records — in enrollment, research, scholarship, athletics, philanthropy and engagement — while transforming the lives of approximately 18,000 students in Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco, Bryan and online. For 125 years, Tarleton State has been committed to accessible higher education opportunities for all while helping students grow academically, socially and professionally through programs that emphasize real world learning and address regional, state and national needs.