This week, music students will celebrate the culminations of their undergraduate careers.

Ryan White

White is a baritone singer. Baritones have the second lowest male vocal range and are defined by their deep voice.

White said he has been singing for basically his whole life.

“I started my first extra-curricular music singing in fourth and fifth grade,” White said. “But I started my voice lessons my sophomore year of high school, and I’ve been taking voice lessons ever since.”

In addition to singing, White said he tried out for the orchestra, playing the cello and then the French horn for a couple of years.

“When I moved schools, my band director wasn’t as good,” White said. “So, as we had a very strong choir program, I went back to my singing, which I enjoyed from the start. I like performing and going on stage with just the instrument that I have: my own voice.”

Last year, White said he received a Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship from UW-Whitewater to attend a five-week opera program in Italy called “La Musica Lirica.”

After college, White said he plans on taking a year off before going to graduate school, during which he will be taking voice lessons in Chicago. He said his dream job is “just performing.”

In his recital, White will sing various songs by three Italian composers: Tosti Verdi, Donaudy and Bellini.

“Technically, this is the culmination of my vocal studies at UW-Whitewater for four years, but the music I got last year in the spring,” White said.

His recital will take place at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the Light Recital Hall.

Mallory Bray

Bray is taught by Lecturer Leanne League, who teaches violin and viola. Bray said she has been playing violin for 20 years.

“My mom started teaching me about music when I was very young by playing recordings of classical music in the house, taking me to performances, and reading me books about musical instruments,” Bray said. “I remember her asking me if I would rather take violin lessons or piano lessons. I chose violin because I was less familiar with it and it intrigued me more.”

Bray said she plans to attend graduate school to continue her violin performance studies. Her future goal is to be an orchestral player and studio teacher.

“I would love to do a mixture of orchestral playing, chamber music playing, recording and creating new music, and teaching private lessons,” Bray said.

Bray said she is looking forward to her upcoming senior recital, in which she will perform sonatas written by Beethoven, Brahms, Ysae and a showpiece by Sarasate.

Pianist Claire Mallory will accompany Bray in the Beethoven and Brahms sonatas, and pianist Josh Wang will accompany Bray in “Zapateado,” a virtuosic violin showpiece.

Bray’s concert will take place at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the Light Recital Hall.

Both concerts are free to attend.