The Performer of the Semester recital brought together standout student musicians, giving them a chance to perform for the campus community after weeks of preparation and selection by faculty.
Students from the Department of Music took the stage in the Ivan Wilson Fine Arts Center Recital Hall on Wednesday afternoon for the semester showcase.
An event designed to recognize standout performances during the department’s end-of-semester jury evaluations and highlight the work students have done throughout the term.
This semester’s performers were:
- Camden Clark, piano
- Asher Griffith, violin
- Michael Cecil, marimba
- Tristan Lucas, guitar
- Ashton Keen, horn
- Madalynn Dunn, mezzo-soprano
- Rizal Duncan, clarinet
- Dalton Childress, piano
- Jack Calhoun, percussion
- Andrew Blosser, clarinet
- Tess Raney, soprano
- Paige Boien, soprano
The performances also included faculty member Rebecca Golub and a student from Michigan State University as pianists.
For Michael Cecil, a junior music education major, the recital marked his first time being chosen for the honor.
“I was really excited,” Cecil said. “I wasn’t expecting to be chosen… and it is a good feeling. It’s my first time being chosen for this, so it was nice.”
Cecil performed “Journey to the Creek” by Brian Mueller on marimba.
“We’ve had this music for about a month and a half,” Cecil said. “So I’ve had about seven weeks that I’ve had this music to prepare and memorize.”
Cecil said preparing the place required more than learning the notes.
“I think the biggest challenges with this piece is just showing the musicality behind it, getting different dynamics and different tones and textures out of the piece itself, and just learning how to develop the music as a whole,” Cecil said.
Cecil said the recital gave him a chance to perform alone for a larger audience than he is used to.
“Previously, we perform in percussion ensembles and as big groups, and I’ve done a couple other solo and duet works,” Cecil said. “But I think it’s really nice to have this chance to show it to more of the music department, because a lot of them show up to this.”
Department Chair Zachary Lopes said faculty panels select students after standout jury performances in their areas. Lopes said the recital reflects both student growth and the department’s standards.
“The qualities of technique and musicianship and their artistry abilities that they brought out during their final juries ultimately got them selected by the faculty panel,” Lopes said.
The event also serves as a public showcase for student work that often happens behind practice room doors.
“It’s good to feature the students who are really doing outstanding work, not only for the students themselves, but also for our student body to see what they can accomplish,” Lopes said.
Audience member Ryan Root, a sophomore mechanical engineering major, said the recital offered a chance to hear music from across the department while supporting classmates.
“It helps showcase what students do, because a lot of people don’t see what students do, especially creative arts majors,” Roots said. “It’s nice to see progress from my classmates.”
Root said he would return for similar performances in the future.
“Honestly, it’s nice to just clear my mind,” Root said. “Just listen to some good music.”
Lopes said performances like the recital help students develop skills that cannot be built in rehearsal alone.
“It’s one thing to sit in a practice room and practice scales and etudes and all of their repertoire,” Lopes said. “It’s a whole other thing to get up on a stage and perform all those things. It’s a different mentality.”
For students in the audience and on stage, the recital functioned as both recognition and rehearsal for what comes next.
“Hopefully to be inspired to practice their own instruments, but also to encourage a sense of community and camaraderie and encouragement in our department as well,” Lopes said.
