On Monday, Sept. 22, Elizabethtown College Department of Fine and Performing Arts presented their Monday Series Concert All-Faculty Recital. The recital was held in Leffler Chapel and Performance Center around 7:30 p.m., encouraging students, faculty and community members to attend. The program consisted of a number of pieces performed by faculty of the College’s Department of Fine and Performing Arts displaying a wide variety of instruments ranging from voice to flute to string.
The program begin with a piece called “Intersession: Intervale” by Curtis Olson, performed by J. Robert Spence, Associate Professor of Music and Director of Instrumental Studies, playing trombone and Justin Badgerow, Associate Professor of Music, on piano. The two presented a good headway for the night, eliciting the audience with the slow, resonating piece. They were followed up by “As It Fell Upon a Day” by Aaron Copland, performed by Teresa Bomberger who sang soprano, Paula Nelson, adjunct faculty in the department of fine and performing arts, playing flute and Faith Shiffer, adjunct faculty in the department of fine and performing arts, playing clarinet. Their piece left the audience mesmerized by its quick, staccato notes, which displayed the talent of the musicians, and the soprano voice.
Devin Howell performed J.S. Bach’s “Suite No. 1 Unaccompanied Cello (BWV 1007): I. Prelude, II. Allemande, VI. Gigue” on contrabass. The familiar tune captured the audience’s attention and was soon followed by four songs performed by Anne Gross, Assistant Professor of Music, singing soprano with accompaniment by Badgerow on the piano. The songs were by Gustav Mahler and consisted of “Frühlingsmorgen,” “Ablösung im Sommer,” “Ich atmet’ einen linden Duft” and “Wer hat hies Liedlein erdacht?” Although the songs were in German, the emotion demonstrated by the singer’s face and voice easily helped cross the language divide and allowed the audience to feel the songs’ meanings, even though they may not have understood the songs’ lyrics.
“I enjoyed watching [Gross] perform for the first time since the year began. I could tell how hard she works and how much she loves to sing,” sophomore music therapy major Madison Button said.
Nelson and Badgerow continued the night with Walter Gieseking’s “Sonatine for Flute and Piano II. Allegretto, playing flute and piano respectively. Their combination of the high, jilting notes of the flute and low, bass sound of the piano created an interesting sound for the audience to both discover and enjoy. The night ended with Stephanie McCullough, adjunct professor of violin and viola, playing the violin, Sara Male, adjunct instructor of cello, playing the cello and Debra Ronning, lecturer of music and director of keyboard studies, playing the piano. Together, they performed a piece by Paul Schoenfield entitled “Café Music: II Andante Moderato I Allegro,” which concluded the night with its upbeat sound and lively notes, leaving the audience with an energetic piece rather than a somber. The piece also allowed the audience to walk away having heard the talents of multiple instruments.
“Watching the string players is amazing,” sophomore music therapy major Samantha Wasson said. “The classical songs and jazz piece were especially good.”
At the conclusion of the recital, all members were received with thunderous applause both by students, fellow faculty and community members alike. The passion, varying talents and dedication within the Department of Fine and Performing Arts for music and performing was apparent throughout the night. It was neither missed nor taken for granted by attendees, especially those at the College studying under the faculty members.
“I loved watching the faculty doing what they love to do and really being themselves,” sophomore music therapy major Allyssa Allwein said. “It’s always a more fun performance when you can see the performers get into a groove.”
The College’s Department of Fine and Performing Arts’ Monday Concert Series are held every Monday on campus, eliciting the talent of community members, faculty and off-campus guests as well. All are open to the public and free of charge.
