Two guest musicians are performing in the Williams Performing Arts Center on Thursday for “Ladies Night Out” with hopes to inspire ACU’s female performers.

“Ladies Night Out” is one of five recitals in the music department’s Guest Artist Series. Thursday’s showcase features guest vocal soloist Kerry Walters, associate professor of music from Bradley University, and Dr. Denise Parr-Scanlin, assistant professor of music from West Texas A&M University, at the piano.  The duo will perform a selection of pieces that represents female composers Clara Schumann and Cecile Chaminade.

Each year the department of music sponsors a five-concert Guest Artist Series that brings in soloists and ensembles from around the country. Recent guest artists include well-known saxophonist Jeff Coffin of Dave Matthews Band and Boston Brass-. Respected musical artists from varied backgrounds are regularly invited to interact with students in classes and as guest conductors and lecturers.

Arielle Collier, junior vocal performance major from Mesquite, will be working backstage with Kerry Walters and Denise Parr-Scanlin during the performance on Thursday as part of her job as stage manager.

“It will give me experience working with others in the professional field,” Collier said, “It’s nice from a female vocalist’s perspective to be able to see women playing the music of female composers.”

In previous years, students were given the opportunity to sing or play for the guest artist in a master class in exchange for a critique to apply to their craft. Walters and Parr-Scanlin will not be offering a master class.

Cheryl Lemmons, piano accompanist in the department of music is responsible for bringing the women to campus. Lemmons met Walters and Parr-Scanlin during a summer music program, where all three women have been on faculty.

“They are both wonderful musicians,” Lemmons said. “There are many great American female composers the pair could’ve chosen from but they chose a German composer and a French composer. They selected music that speaks to them.”

“Ladies Night Out” is a free event and is taking place on Thursday in the Williams Performing Arts Center Recital Hall at 8 p.m.