Each semester, many students in the Greatbatch School of Music perform recitals to showcase the musical talents they have developed and refined during their time at Houghton.
These recitals come after months of planning, preparation, and practice. Student recitals bring a diverse array of high-quality music to campus, from original percussion pieces and Baroque organ compositions to funky jazz rhythms. In the upcoming weeks, several students will be performing what are sure to be great recitals. Mark your calendars to come support your peers and enjoy free music!
On November 6, at 8:00 p.m., senior Daniel Stevens ’18 and graduate student Ian Riley will be performing a duo percussion recital. The recital will feature works for snare, timpani, and mallet percussion, as well as a percussion ensemble piece. The two performers agree that “Catching Shadows,” a marimba duet that features a percussion ensemble, is their favorite piece. Riley says, “‘Catching Shadows,’ by Ivan Trevino, is easily my favorite piece on the program…it’s a work that intersperses an ethereal chorale theme within a classic rock-inspired groove.” Ian is a second-year percussion performance grad student and Daniel is a senior who will be completing a Bachelor of Music with Elective Studies.
Piano performance major Naomi Tripp ’19 will be performing her junior recital on November 13 at 6:30 p.m. Her recital will feature a variety of piano literature, including a Joplin rag, J.S. Bach’s fifth French dance suite, and works by Beethoven and Chopin. Naomi’s favorite piece on the program is the Bach dance suite, which showcases the technical skills pianists must work hard to refine and master.
Derek Chase ‘19, a saxophone performance major, will be presenting his junior saxophone recital on November 20 at 6:30 p.m. Derek will be performing a diverse repertoire from various time periods, including contemporary saxophone literature by Ryo Noda and Robert Muczynski, a Bach transcription, and a concerto by Henri Tomasi. The Tomasi concerto is one of Derek’s favorite pieces on the program. Derek is looking forward to his recital, saying, “Overall, this recital gets me excited for future performances as well as my senior recital next year when I’ll be able to incorporate some fun electronic pieces that I love.”
Eric Bernardin, a second-year graduate student pursuing a degree in music composition, will be presenting a recital featuring his own original music on December 4 at 6:30 p.m. Eric’s recital will feature several short forms that he scored, as well as a clip from Schindler’s List paired with original music. The recital will also include several original pieces performed by Greatbatch School of Music students. Eric’s favorite piece on the program is a collaborative song, which will showcase the vocal talents of Daniel Bussey ’20 and Michaella Aliperti ’19.
A number of other student recitals are on the Greatbatch School of Music calendar for the fall semester. Senior Hannah Hijleh ’18 will be performing her senior violin performance recital on November 8 at 6:30 p.m. The program will feature works by Tchaikovsky, Ravel, and Beethoven. On November 15 at 6:30 p.m., graduate student Linlin Huang will be performing a graduate piano recital. Senior Marc LeGrand ‘18 will bring classical guitar stylings to campus on December 6 at 8:00p p.m.
Every student recital takes place in the Recital Hall in the Center for the Arts. Most are followed by receptions full of food, friends, and laughter. Chase encourages Houghton students to come to the showcases of months of hard practice, saying, “If music can’t sway you, maybe cinnamon rolls can!”