classical

Not many Philadelphians are aware of the historical relationship between Settlement Music School and The Curtis Institute of Music. The glue that held them together was in the person of Mary Louise Curtis Bok, a great citizen whose generosity and fierce devotion put both schools on the road to success and fame in the early part of the last century. Curtis actually held its first classes in the Settlement building, which is now known as the Curtis Branch.

It is, nevertheless, an unusual distinction to find a musician who attended both places, as did soprano Karen Slack. The Philadelphia native began formal studies in the community education programs at Settlement, as any Philadelphian today can, and was then accepted to continue her musical education at the intensely competitive Curtis. Slack will return to Settlement this weekend as part of a series of alumni recitals over the course of the next several years in anticipation of the school's centennial celebration in 2008. She brings her tonally lush, impeccably shaped voice to a lovely program of songs by Mozart, Bachelet, Strauss, the "Hermit Songs" of Samuel Barber, and to close, a group of spirituals.

Sun., Jan. 22, 3 p.m., $15, Settlement Music School, 416 Queen St., 215-320-2650, www.smsmusic.org.