On Tuesday, November 8, at 7:30 p.m., the Department of Music put on the Piano Ensemble Concert at Trinity Presbyterian Church, featuring students of the UTM piano studio.
The show began with a quartet performance of a Mark Wilberg piece, featuring senior Andrew Moore, junior Tori Russell, freshman Ya Chieh Chen and senior Harold Johnson. This piece transitioned through various dynamics, going from loud and quick-paced to slower and softer.
Then, six students played Six Pieces, Op. 10 by Carl Maria von Weber, dividing it up by two students taking two movements each. The students were Moore and sophomore percussion major Rachel Steiner; Chen and Johnson; and Russell and senior Kelsey Currie.
Afterwards, Moore and Russell played an impressive piece from Sonate by Francis Poulenc. This piece went from complex and dissonant to big and warm and easily was one of the best performances of the night.
Finally, the UTM Piano Quartet, featuring staff accompanist Delana Easley, Assistant Professor of Music Dr. Johnathan Vest, Professor of Music Dr. Scott Roberts, and Music Department Chair and head of the piano studio Dr. Elaine Harriss, performed The Stars and Stripes Forever arranged by Mack Wilberg. This piece had a large sound and impressed the audience the most, applauding enough for the piano quartet to come back and bow again.
This concert not only served as a great performing opportunity for piano students, but treated audience members, giving them a look at the art of piano. The show expressed the abilities of the piano students and faculty, featuring difficult pieces played well. Also, from the show, the dedication of the students could be seen. Each student was well-prepared and played his or her piece with talent and professionalism. This concert was yet another positive reflection of the music department at UTM.
