On Oct. 4 and 5, the UTM Department of Music held its 20th annual Dessert Evening in the newly constructed Fine Arts Building for the first time with about 200 people in attendance.
The University Singers, New Pacer Singers and soloists from the choirs shared the stage both nights, providing live entertainment for guests while serving them three separate dessert courses between ensemble performances.
As the performers prepared between pieces, UTM Director of Choirs Dr. Mark Simmons introduced the audience to the brand new Blankenship Recital Hall. The shows concluded with UTM alumni joining the ensemble onstage to sing UTM’s Alma Mater as the final number.
Simmons said he is quite pleased with the design of the Recital Hall.
“The sound is vibrant and alive without being too ‘boom-y’ or with too much echo. The architect and acoustician who worked on the design of the room spent a great deal of energy ensuring that the room had superb acoustic properties, and I think they succeeded,” Simmons said.
Because the Fine Arts Building has been reopened and is now more accommodating than ever, Simmons did not hesitate to bring the Dessert Evening back to the UTM campus.
“Moving Dessert Evening back onto campus was an easy decision this year. Since we just moved into our new facility this summer, it was a real treat to have Dessert Evening return to campus. The choral/recital hall easily accommodates our guests and the room is wonderful to sing in,” Simmons said.
Dessert Evening is a tradition that members of the community look forward to every year, but students who perform at the annual event are even more excited about the opportunity to choose from a much more contemporary variety of songs.
“This event provides an outlet for our students to perform music that traditionally is not focused on in the Department. Many students perform popular songs or selections from musical theater productions, and it is great for them to have a venue in which to perform these styles of music,” Simmons said.
“I love hearing what solo pieces the students perform. This is a musical side of them that I don’t often see, so it is a pleasure to hear it.”
