GALLIPOLIS — Two students from the University of Rio Grande/Rio Grande Community College (URG/RGCC) will present their senior recital concert on Saturday, Feb. 11, and all area residents are invited to attend.

The recital concert will feature Allyson Johnston and Nattalie Phillips and will be held at the First Church of God in Gallipolis, located at 1723 Ohio 141, and will begin at 3 p.m. Johnston, who sings soprano, is from Gallipolis, while Phillips, who sings alto, is from Chillicothe.

“This is the culmination of their degree program,” said Rio Grande faculty member Sarin Williams, who also serves as the director of the Grande Chorale and Masterworks Chorale music groups on campus.

Williams explained that Johnston and Phillips are both music education majors. As part of their degree program, they are required to give a recital concert, and the performance is open to the public. Johnston and Phillips both work with vocal music instructor Valerie Tanner.

This recital will feature classical music that will include pieces sung in French, Italian and German, as well as modern music that will include gospel songs and musical theater numbers.

The concert will even include one song from the original musical, “The Last Oz Story,” which was performed at Rio Grande in 2011. Scott Michal, who teaches in the music department at Rio Grande, collaborated on the musical with author David Meyers.

Michal will assist with this recital, as he will play the cello at one point. Johnston and Phillips will be accompanied throughout the concert on the piano by James “Sunny” Sundquist.

Rio Grande student singers Nathan Wood and Andrea Rohrer will also perform along with Johnston and Phillips in the concert.

“I think it is going to be a really nice recital,” Williams said, adding that area residents will be entertained and be impressed with the talent of these two students. “It’s a great opportunity for area residents to come out to support these student and also hear some outstanding musical selections.”

Williams has enjoyed getting to know Phillips and Johnston at Rio Grande, and knows that they will go far in their careers.

“The both have a lot of potential, both as educators and as performers,” Williams said.

Phillips said that she is nervous and excited about the recital performance. The music that she and Johnston will be performing is challenging, and she is proud to be sharing the songs with the audience members.

A senior, Phillips has enjoyed her time at Rio Grande and said she has learned a lot in the music education program. The university has excellent faculty members in place, and the music department is just going to keep improving and growing in the next few years, Phillips said.

After graduating from Rio Grande, Phillips and Johnston both hope to work as music teachers.

“Music is my love. Teaching is my passion,” Phillips said.

And on Saturday, Feb. 11, Phillips and Johnston will share their love for music with area residents in their recital concert. They are looking forward to the concert and hope a large crowd of area residents attend the show.

For more information on the recital concert or on the music department at Rio Grande, call Sarin Williams at 1-800-282-7201.