Two Westminster College seniors were selected from a master class to perform in the Celebrity Series' Franc D'Ambrosio concert March 23.

Business administration major James Cochran and music education major Deanna Owens were chosen from a field of six Westminster students who vied for the honor.  The duo earned a standing ovation when they sang "All I Ask of You" from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera.  D'Ambrosio played the title role on Broadway and was hailed as the "World's Longest-Running Phantom" for nearly a decade.

Cochran and Owens are not newcomers to singing or to performing together.  They have become very good friends through their involvement in musicals, Concert Choir, and Chamber Singers at Westminster, and paired up for "I'd Give It All for You," the final number for Owens' senior recital last fall.

"Singing is not only a passion for me, but is also a need," Owens said.  "It's how I express myself and my feelings and I can't imagine my life without it."

"We do have some experience on the stage together," Cochran said.  "It also helps that we have been very close friends while studying at Westminster, so sharing the stage with her made it that much more meaningful."

Cochran credits Karen Latta, a Westminster graduate and former Wilmington High School choral director, with helping set his musical path: "Mrs. Latta really inspired me and helped me grow as a musician through high school.  She has been one of the most influential people in my life, and I am so blessed to have had such a great support system in her."

D'Ambrosio hosted a master class, during which he listened to the individual auditions and offered specific suggestions for improvement.

"He worked with each finalist to help them understand what questions are important to ask when preparing to perform a piece from a show," Cochran said.  "He possesses such a comprehensive knowledge of musical theatre that he could answer any question a student asked."

"For me, it was to sing with everything I had, especially focusing on my eyes and facial expressions to make the words of the song really meaningful," Owens said.  "He reminded me to fully immerse myself in the character I'm portraying and showed me how subtle things, like eye contact and movement, can change the whole performance of a song."

"The master class was absolutely wonderful and so interesting," Connie McGinnis, Celebrity Series assistant director, said.  "It was a great experience and the students loved it."

"It was one of the best run, most motivating master classes our students have been lucky enough to participate in and watch," said Dr. Anne Hagan Bentz, Westminster associate professor of music.  "They were so excited to learn from a professional who has been on Broadway and has such extensive performing experience." 

Cochran and Owens were grateful for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, with "exciting," "amazing," and "incredible" coming up frequently.

"It was truly incredible and I haven't stopped smiling all day," Owens said the day after the performance.  "I felt truly honored to be representing Westminster and to be sharing the stage with such an acclaimed singer and actor as Franc."

"It was an unbelievable feeling to receive the standing ovation from the crowd," Cochran said.  "It's what I've grown to love about Westminster: the support of the community and its students make this school remarkable."

Cochran is a son of James and Catherine Cochran of Pulaski and a graduate of Wilmington Area High School.  He studies voice with Diana Walters in Grove City and plans to move to New York City after graduation.

Owens is a daughter of Jeff and Mary Owens of Waterford and a graduate of Fort Le Boeuf High School.  She studies voice with Bentz at Westminster.

Contact McGinnis at (724) 946-7354 or email mcginncl@westminster.edu for additional information.

(L-r) Deanna Owens, Franc D'Ambrosio, James Cochran