Hannah Burton
Staff Writer
Students, faculty and family members gathered in Morgan Auditorium last Friday for a student piano and voice recital.
Music department associate Carol Stephenson welcomed the audience as she presented the Department of Music’s hard work.
Sixteen students performed in the recital, exhibiting varying ability and individuality.
Brianna Nemback opened the show as she played an effortless rendition of Friedrich Burgmuller’s “Douce Plainte.”
Following a soothing intro came a more somber and emotional piano piece of “Prelude in A minor” performed by junior biology major Jeremy Wagoner.
“I like playing moodier pieces that evoke emotion,” he said.
What started as a general education requirement turned into a way for Wagoner to exercise a different part of his brain and now serves a meditative purpose.
“The music itself gets in your head,” Wagoner said.
He enjoyed performing in front of an audience for the first time.
“This world of performing is a whole other realm,” he said.
Junior history major Franklin Zhu also conquered the fear of performing in front of an audience for the first time.
Zhu learned how to play piano in kindergarten and decided to pick it back up in his college years.
Not looking to become a professional musician, Zhu finds playing to be a relaxing and important part of his life.
He played one of Beethoven’s classic piece, “Ecossaise.”
“The mood is really joyful,” Zhu said. “It’s a jumpy, up and down piece.”
The song was a perfect choice to demonstrate Zhu’s revived piano skills.
Freshman communications major Ayla Bobrove also played a simple yet beautiful version of “Black is the Color of My True Love’s Hair.”
She enjoyed the song at its slow pace and different vibe.
“(The song) was interesting because I’ve never played a jazz piece before,” Bobrove said.
She has played piano since she was three years old and attended Yamaha Music School for 15 years.
Bobrove spends time playing piano as a hobby and is considering a music minor.
The recital also showcased the vocal talent of many ULV students.
Mezzo-soprano Melissa Martinez belted out “I Dreamed a Dream” from “Les Misérables.”
Mezzo-soprano Vicky Campos sang the upbeat and quirky tune “What it Means to be a Friend” by Jason Robert Brown.
Campos gazed up at the balcony and the lyrics “a friend knows you’ve got a crush on your teacher but would never tell” floated off her lips, as the comical song continued on.
Junior music major and pianist Patrick Sanchez also wowed the audience with his expressive piano performance.
As he leaned into his piano with exaggerated movements, Sanchez dramatized the “Prelude in C Minor Op. 3 no. 2” piece.
Sanchez successfully relayed his natural talent to his peers.
“That was really good!” an audience member whispered.
The next spring concert will be the Barbershop groups showcase at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Morgan Auditorium.
Hannah Burton can be reached at hannah.burton@laverne.edu.
