MADI DAVIS-ILGEN
Student. Performer. Teacher.
Biography
Madi Davis is a senior Music Major from Las Vegas, Nevada. She studies with Carol Ann Modesitt at Southern Utah University and this is her fourth year taking private lessons. She is a member of Concert Choir and Opus, and also participates each semester in the opera program. A few of the roles she has played are: Sorceress in Dido and Aeneas, Madame Flora in Menotti’s The Medium, Cecelia March in Adamo’s Little Women, Stepsister in Cinderella, and a friendly St. Bernard in The Stoned Guest. In March 2015, she was selected as a soloist for the Halverson Young Artists Concert with the Orchestra of Southern Utah. She was also selected as a soloist for SUU's presentation of Vivaldi’s Gloria. Madi has competed at the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Las Vegas Chapter competitions, for the last four years and has placed for regionals each year. Receiving third place in 2013, an honorable mention at NATS Cal-Western Regionals later that year, second place in 2014, third place in 2015, and second place in 2016. She was also selected to participate in Milena Kitic’s master class at regionals this year in San Diego. Madi is currently applying to graduate school for fall 2017, in hopes of a master’s degree in vocal performance and pedagogy.
Junior Recital
EDGE PROJECT
In order to complete an experiential learning requirement for Southern Utah University, Madi put together and performed a Junior Recital benefit concert with proceeds going the The American Cancer Society.
Program
If you would like to view Madi's Junior recital and some of her other works, please follow the link below.
https://youtu.be/iCO-NQhnyMk
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Proof of Completion
DISPLAY TABLE
Public Relations Poster
Donation Box
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Newsletter
Cancer affects a great number of people. Whether you personally have been diagnosed, or a family member, friend, or loved one has, we all know of the impacts it can have on someone’s life. My life has personally been affected by cancer, and one vice that has helped me cope with my emotions is music. As one of Southern Utah Universities most cherished voice professors was currently battling cancer, I thought, what a better way to bring people together, raise money, and lift spirits then an afternoon of joyous music!
I put together and performed a recital of uplifting music where donations were asked to be made to the American Cancer Society for cancer research. There were students, friends, family, and faculty that attended to support this cause. Programs and program notes were given to all that attended so that they could truly understand the music’s emotional depth. There was a refreshment table which consisted of a popcorn bar and drinks and guests mingled and continued to donate money even after the performance. I designed posters which were displayed throughout SUU’s campus and this helped with informing people about the event. People came together not only to enjoy music, but to support those who have been affected by Cancer.
Newsletter Continued
On May 30, 2014, my mom passed away very suddenly from Cancer. This drastically changed both mine and my family’s life. I have always turned to music to help me get through tough times and it certainly helped me through this hurdle in my life. When it was announced that one of our professors was battling stage four cancer, many of the students were feeling down. Because music has always helped me, I thought it might help others as well! I had to perform a junior recital as a requirement for my major, so I thought why not put a spin on it to make it even more meaningful to me.
One of the biggest trials I had to face during this project was creating the poster to display around campus. I knew that marketing this event was crucial for its success, but I was not very confident in my design skills. It took me quite a while and after tweaking the poster a countless amount of times, it was complete. I utilized my colleagues who were tech-savvy to help me find the perfect web-design site and this helped me overcome this hurdle.
Newsletter Continued
Another obstacle that arose during this project was my own time management. Not only did I have to memorize 40 minutes of music, but I needed to fill out all forms, create posters, write program notes, and pass a preview which would give me the thumbs up to perform the recital. It was tough for me to organize my time in the most productive manner. After I figured out how to manage my tasks though, everything seemed to fall into place.
Through this project, though the amount of money raised may have been small, I was able to help with the fight against cancer. Even though the money donated did not go to one specific person, it supports the bigger picture-finding a cure to this deathly illness. On top of helping those that cancer research directly affects, this project also benefited all that attended. Many of the students and faculty that were feeling down because of our ill professor had their spirits lifted from the music. That alone made all of the hard work pay off.
Newsletter Continued
While this project benefited many people, I would say that it affected me the most. I did not expect for a recital to be so much work, but because if it, I know have great time management skills. I have become a better student, musician, and teacher through this process. I now understand what it takes to plan and perform a recital, which is extremely important for my field of study. Completing this project truly has shaped me into the professional I am today.
“Uplifting people’s spirits through music validates my decision to continue my education in music performance.”
“It was beautiful to see people’s faces light up as the music touched their souls.”
Final Reflection
While mom and dad might always say, “you are the best” or “I know you’ll get the job,” sometimes we won’t. As a college student, I often think about my future, or the next big step I will take in my life. I have worked hard to get good grades and stay involved in extracurricular activities so that I may have a better chance of getting into graduate school and getting a job. On paper, Madi Davis looks like a qualified candidate, but so do many other people. How can I set myself apart from the others? What makes me different than everyone else? One way for me to have that “edge” over others is through my completion of my junior recital benefit concert.
Final Reflection Continued
Southern Utah University requires all students to complete an experiential learning project. These projects can involve the community, service, global engagement, leadership, and many others. SUU has created this program so students like me who are worried about standing out in a crowd of competitors can have an “edge” over others. I knew that I wanted to create a project that would directly involve my intended profession. I felt that not only would it satisfy my project requirement, but it would also benefit my skills as a musician, teacher, and student.
I put together and performed an afternoon of music for many friends, faculty, family, and students at SUU, and asked for donations to the American Cancer Society. Cancer affects a great number of people. Whether you personally have been diagnosed, or a family member, friend, or loved one has, we all know of the impacts it can have on someone’s life. On May 30, 2014, my mom passed away very suddenly from Cancer. This drastically changed both mine and my family’s life, and one vice that has helped me cope with my emotions is music.
Final Reflection Continued
Around the time, I was deciding on a project, it was announced that one of Southern Utah Universities most cherished voice professors was currently battling cancer. When the news was out that one of our favorite professors was battling stage four cancer, many of the students were feeling down. Because music has always helped me, I thought it might help others as well! I had to perform a junior recital as a requirement for my major, so I thought why not put a spin on it to make it even more meaningful to me.
There are many aspects that go into putting together a recital. I learned very quickly that for me to be successful, I needed to manage my time very wisely. Not only did I need to learn, memorize, and perfect about 45 minutes of music, but I had to write the program notes, build the donation box, fill out all forms needed, and many other duties. One of the hardest responsibilities I had was to create a poster for publicity. I am not very tech-savvy, but after getting help from others, and tweaking the poster a myriad of times, I had my final product.
Final Reflection Continued
One of my goals for the project was to get a decent sized audience. I knew that I needed this poster to be displayed anywhere it could be to accomplish this goal! I put these posters in almost every building on campus, small companies throughout Cedar City, and had a-frames up the week of the recital. There was a great number of friends, family, and music faculty and students, but there was not a great number of non-music major students. This is very typical of classical recitals at SUU, and once I counted the number of donations, and realized that those who were there were truly uplifted, I was okay with the outcome. I had raised money for the American Cancer Society and I had lifted people’s spirits through my music.
While I may not have accomplished smaller goals within my project, the “bigger-picture” had been completed, and successfully. Through this project, I have refined and strengthened my time management skills greatly. There are many deadlines that come with putting together a recital, and if you don’t schedule your time wisely, there is a great chance of failure. I have also learned so many things about myself as a musician through this experience. This was my first full-solo recital and I have gained so much more confidence in myself as a performer, and as a student. I am so grateful not only for the skills that I have gained, but for the opportunity that SUU has given me to share my music with others, and raise money while doing it.
Resume
If you would like to get in touch with Madi or request her vocal or professional resume please fill out the section below.
Contact
Learn more about Madi at https://www.linkedin.com/in/madison-davis-ilgen-37327281
Or fill out this form to get in contact with her.
