Small Ensembles make noteworthy performance

Student musicians showcased their talents in the Small Ensembles fall concert Tuesday, Nov. 15, at 7:30 p.m. in the Max Noah Recital Hall.

The anxious students have been practicing for the concert since August. They practice twice a week as a group and spend the rest of the week honing their skills individually.

“I think that we are as prepared as we are going to be,” said French horn player Nisha Dixon. “My favorite part is seeing how far the other groups have come and watching them perform.”

Many students performed in the concert and they all put their own unique spin on the many different pieces played. The Percussion Ensemble, directed by Ryan Smith, began the show with Kevin Bobo’s “Hemispheres;” Chick Corea’s “Children’s Songs” No. 9, No. 2 and No. 14; and finally Phil Faini’s “Highlife.”

Kelly Hoffman, percussionist, says the opening song performed by the Percussion Ensemble was among her favorites to play.

“‘Hemispheres’ is probably my favorite,” Hoffman said. “I really like it because I feel like it is the most advanced piece that we play.”

The Woodwind Ensemble, which is directed by Katherine Belvin and composed of the flute, the oboe and the clarinet, followed the percussionists with the Allegro energico and the Andantino from Malcolm Arnold’s “Divertimento for Flute, Oboe, and Clarinet” and Franz Joseph Haydn’s “Finale from Trio No. 107.”

Following the Woodwind Ensemble’s performance, director Dan Auerbach and the String Quartet took the stage. They elegantly played Arcangelo Corelli’s “Corrente” followed by George Frideric Handel’s “Gigue.”

Megan Hill, who plays the viola, says she really enjoys hearing the pieces performed by all of the other ensembles.

“I like listening to other ensembles, and it is always fun to play with our quartet,” Hill said.

Shortly following Auerbach, Lisa Bartholow wasted no time beginning her direction of the Flute Ensemble. They played only one piece, but it was enough for a roaring applause from the impressed audience. The flute players performed the Allegro maestoso, the Andante and the Vivace from Joseph Haydn’s “Trio No. 1, HOB IV: 1 (London Trios).”

Mary Barnett, a junior mass communication major, attended the performance and walked away very pleased with the quality of music the ensembles played.

“The concert was amazing,” Mary Barnett said. “It is evident by their performance that all of the students in the ensemble have a real passion for music.”

The audience eagerly awaited the Saxophone Quartet, directed by Stephen Fischer, as the stage crew reset the stage for its entrance. The Quartet took the stage and played Pierre Lantier’s “Andante et Scherzetto.”

The Brass Ensemble, directed by Maureen Horgan, closed the show. This ensemble was composed of a plethora of instruments including the trumpet, the horn, the trombone, the euphonium and the tuba. They began with “A Joyous Lament,” which was composed and conducted by Georgia College’s own Matthew Osburn. They ended the production with three pieces from George Frideric Handel’s “Water Music.”

“I really enjoyed getting to know the people in small ensembles,” flutist Andrea Wilkinson said.   “I also loved challenging myself by performing in a smaller group. Mistakes are more easily covered up when there are more instruments, but when there are very few instruments, there is a lot more pressure.”

Posted by MorganWilson on Nov 17 2011. Filed under Features. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.