All Nature Sings

Sunday, February 22, 2026 at 3:00pm
Crowell Concert Hall

RESERVE NOW

Free and open to the public.

Wesleyan Piano Instructor Carolyn Halsted MA ’87 will be joined by soprano Sarah Armstrong and baritone Dylan Armstrong for a concert of nature-inspired songs, including Tree Songs and Water Songs by Halsted, and songs by Ned Rorem, Aaron Copland, and Charles Ives.

Sarah Armstrong holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Lawrence University and a Master of Arts in Theatre Education from the University of Northern Colorado. A professional musician, educator, director, and administrator, Armstrong has spent more than 30 years serving the arts communities of Chicago, Connecticut, and Western Massachusetts. She began her career as a chorus member with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, later performing as a soloist both nationally and internationally. A New Englander since 1998, she performs regularly with Connecticut Choral Artists (CONCORA), Voce, the Hartford Chorale, the Hartford Symphony, and solos regularly in New England. She is a founding member of The Halcyon Duo with classical guitarist and composer Thomas Schuttenhelm, is on the voice faculty at Central Connecticut State University. and co-chairs the Asylum Hill Congregational Church Boar’s Head and Yule Log Festival alongside her husband, Dylan Armstrong. For Sarah, singing brings her back to her first love—making music with friends, serving harmony and community in the best way she knows how. She and Dylan live in Hartford’s historic West End with their daughter, Marjan, and cats, Pippa and Toby.

Dylan Armstrong received his Bachelor's degree from The Hartt School of Music, majoring in opera and oboe. He studied with such teachers as Richard Cross, Humbert Lucarelli, Albert Goltzer, and Miriam Charney. He has performed all over New England in opera, oratorio, and music theater with Connecticut Opera and other companies. Armstrong is a member of the professional choral groups Voce and CONCORA and solos with them regularly. He recently had his Worcester, Massachusetts debut at Mechanics Hall as the bass soloist in the Bach Magnificat. Armstrong has also been a professional church musician for over 30 years, including over 20 years at Asylum Hill Congregational Church, where he has been King Kaspar in the Boar's Head Festival. In 2008, Armstrong conceived, wrote, and performed as Charles Ives in a concert celebrating his music in conjunction with the 100th anniversary of Ives' marriage to Harmony Twichell. He and his wife Sarah are the new Co-Chairs of the Boar's Head and Yule Log Festival at Asylum Hill Congregational Church in Hartford.

Carolyn Halsted, Piano Instructor at Wesleyan, holds degrees from Oberlin Conservatory of Music (music history, piano performance) and Wesleyan University (MA ’87 in world music, specializing in South Indian music and piano). She has taught in Chennai (India), and at Eastern Connecticut State University, the Community Music School in Centerbrook, New England Music Camp, Friends Music Camp, Wesleyan University, and privately. She performs frequently as soloist, accompanist, and chamber musician, collaborating with members of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, CONCORA, and faculty and students at Central Connecticut State University and Wesleyan, and plays for ballet classes at Wesleyan. For many years, she was music director/organist at Higganum Congregational Church, and has since served as interim or guest musician in many Connecticut parishes. She has composed numerous piano, vocal, and choral works.

Admission is free, and everyone is welcome. We encourage you to RSVP to help us with our planning and to get a reminder the day before this event. While RSVPs are not required for entry, they are a big help! While you're on campus, feel free to talk with our gallery assistants about the exhibitions and other upcoming special programs, like our student-led tours.