By Jonathan Smith, Staff Writer

The Denyce Graves recital, originally scheduled for Jan. 21, has been rescheduled for April 15 at 8 p.m. in the Williams Performing Arts Center.

The recital was originally canceled when Graves became ill the day of the show and would have been the inaugural concert in the building’s recital hall.

The new date for the recital was withheld from the public until ticket holders from the canceled concert were contacted and given the first opportunity to go to the rescheduled show.

“[Previous ticket holders] were given the opportunity for a refund or could retain their tickets if they knew they would be able to attend the recital on the new date,” said Dr. Paul Piersall, chair of the Department of Music.

Rescheduling was not as difficult as first thought, according to Piersall.

“Her agent had told me she couldn’t be booked again until April of ’04, but then Ms. Graves said that that was silly and they were going to be able to do it this year,” Piersall said.

The new recital will be basically the same as the one originally scheduled, and the program should not be affected greatly, Piersall said.

“She was supposed to be the inaugural performance for the new fine arts center, one of a series of performers we’re bringing in to commemorate the building,” Piersall said.

Since Graves was unable to perform, Kyle Fry, senior music major from Missouri City, performed the first recital at the Williams Performing Arts Center last week.

Continuing the inaugural productions, several groups will be performing soon.

The Huntington Brass Quintet will perform 8 p.m. Saturday.