By Thomas Lilja
Correspondent
All that could be heard from Mayo Concert Hall on Feb. 11 was the echo of the crowd roaring as several student musicians showcased their breathtaking talent at the College’s weekly Tuesday Recital Series.
One of the performers was Kaitlyn Canneto, a sophomore music and political science double major, who was performing at her first Tuesday Recital Series. She played an exquisite rendition of French composer Paule Maurice’s “Tableaux de Provence” on the saxophone. Composed in the mid-1900s, “Tableaux de Provence” is French for “Pictures of Provence,” which describes the culture and scenery of Provence in southeastern France.
“Despite the fact that I’m a sophomore, this is my first time performing for the recitals here on Tuesdays,” Canneto said. “The only other times I’ve performed on stage by myself were for...jury exams at the end of [my] third semester. It was strange...and a different experience to have it as a performance setting, but it was really cool.”
Peter Corso, a freshman music education major and the second performer of the afternoon, had also never participated in a Tuesday Recital Series before.
“I’ve only done one jury (exam), but it’s definitely really different when it’s just you out there with the pianist,” Corso said. “There’s a bunch of people out there and it’s definitely more (nerve wracking), but if you can channel it the right way, I think it helps out.”
Canneto sang “Der arme Peter (Poor Peter), Op. 53, No. 3.” Composed by Robert Schuman in the early 19th century, the piece depicts the story of a young man named Peter who is watching his true love marry another man.
“(My) piece is something that I performed at the end of last semester,” Canneto said. “(It’s) something that I’ve wanted to play for a long time. It was a really cool opportunity to be able to perform that in front of all my friends, being that it’s the first time. The whole music department has heard me play, aside from my own studio professor.”
Other performances included junior music education major Joseph Reo, who played a rendition of Alexander Goedicke’s “Concert Etude” on the trumpet. Reo’s piece started with an intense and ominous sound, but it quickly switched to a much more fast-paced and light-hearted sound and style of play.
The concert ended with freshman music education major Alexander Kinder, who played Leroy Ostransky’s “Der arme Concierto Miniature” on the trombone, which is a popular piece among trombone players.
Ryan Haupt, a sophomore music education major, said Kinder’s piece is popular among trombone players, as Haupt had also performed it at a Tuesday Recital Series last year.
“Being familiar with a piece you’re hearing being played is way different than hearing one for the first time, so you kinda get to look at it in a different light when someone else is behind the wheel,” Haupt said.
At the College, it is a requirement for freshmen, sophomores and juniors who participate in private music lessons to perform at least one Tuesday Afternoon Recital Series performance. While not a requirement for seniors, they are still invited to perform at the recitals.
Haupt also said the Tuesday Afternoon Recital Series “is good for getting experience playing solo repertoire.”
“A lot of the students here in the music department come from a lot of different backgrounds,” Haupt said. “It’s good to...have everyone do a solo performance, because it may be the first time they’ve stepped on stage alone.”
Dr. Eric Laprade, the director of band and assistant professor of music at the College, was pleased to hear the students perform a wide range of music.
“From my own personal perspective, it is always wonderful to hear our immensely talented students,” Laprade said. “It is also great to witness their development and growth as performing artists. It is equally rewarding to see so many of our music students in the audience supporting their peers.”
