By Linah Munem
Correspondent
As Jacquelyn Briggs began to sing, she silenced the fixed audience that sat in front of her. A clear, controlled and pitch perfect song came from deep within her gut and boomed throughout the Mayo Concert Hall.
Briggs delivered a rather impressive and beautifully executed performance of “Do Not Go My Love,” by Richard Hageman to start off the Afternoon Recital Series on Wednesday, Feb. 27.
Five other talented students followed Briggs with equally impressive performances.
Colleen Ferry, accompanied by Kathy Shanklin on the piano, mesmerized audience members with her wonderful performance of “Cello Sonata No. 1 in E Minor,” by Johannes Brahms, on the cello.
Ferry told an emotional story through the strings of her instrument both quickening and slowing the pace of the melody, leaving audience members silent with anticipation.
The golden brass of Taylor Lorchak’s horn shined almost as bright as her talent did under the spotlight in the Mayo Concert Hall.
Her performance of “Horn Concerto NO. 1,” by Richard Strauss, accompanied by Sally Livingston on the piano, was most entertaining with its dynamic range, quick articulation and its slower, more expressive sections.
Tyler Cudia entered the stage with an heir of confidence that matched his exemplary talents on the bassoon.
With his interpretation of “Romance Op. 62,” by Edward Elgar, Cudia delighted the audience with rich, soft tones and a seamless performance.
Nicole DiBenedetto, a master of the oboe, played a quick and lighthearted song entitled “Concerto per l’Oboe,” by Tomasso Albinoni.
The happy, difficult melody had some audience members tapping their feet to the contagious beat of the song. Agnes Kalinowski closed Wednesday’s recital the same way it started.
The confident performer sang “If Music be the food of love, Third Setting,” by Henry Purcell. The passion for her craft was made known as the soprano projected her voice to fill the ears of her delighted listeners.
Kalinowski truly seemed “filled with joy,” a lyric of what she sang, as everyone listened intently.
“This was actually my first time listening to the singers and musicians at TCNJ,” said freshman math major Alexis Connor. “I was very impressed and I could tell that the performers put a lot of effort into preparing for this ... I would be happy to listen again.”
