For a music major, a senior lecture-recital represents a key milestone in their academic career.
On the evening of Sunday, March 16, Anastasia Duncan, a Music/Vocal major, will take the stage to deliver a powerful performance that will not only serve as a completion of her degree but open up the pathway for her future endeavors in music.
Before the Madisonville, Kentucky native steps onto the grand stage at the Blankenship Recital Hall, she was put under the test of time and preparation leading up to this very moment.
Finding the perfect date to present her recital was a bit difficult, but Duncan found one that could align with her and her professors’ schedules and also allow her family to attend. She also had to present a recital presentation to her professors in a defense, informing students if they can proceed with their recital. With that being finalized, she underwent a routine of practicing her vocals daily and spent about five days out of the week typing out a detailed paper that would go along with the recital.
“I started preparing in December so that way I had enough time but also gave myself an early deadline so that added some stress to it. With the paper, I talked myself through it in a way that could help me form an idea on how I will present the recital to the audience,” Duncan said.
Her recital doesn’t have a specific theme, but the overall concept stemmed from her love of writing music and figuring out how songs are composed.
“The overall theme is taking these songs, figuring out how they were composed and put together to portray the story that they are telling,” she said.
When choosing the repertoire for her performance, Duncan wanted each selection to be different. She knew she needed to include classical music, but she nearly chose an entirely alternative route.
“I just picked pieces that I’ve done in lessons over my four years here. Originally, I wanted to include modern songs like from One Direction but those were just harder to write about because there was no actual sheet music. I have a Broadway piece on my list that is a reflection of a modern song and similar to the music I will write. Broadway is so fun to sing,” Duncan said.
The piece is from the hit Broadway musical, Waitress, and she resonates with the personal feeling it brings. Duncan will also include works from notable composers such as Margaret Bonds, who recites the poem by Langston Hughes. Upon analyzing the poem, Duncan admired the fact that it was written during a time when African Americans started to become more resilient and assertive.
As she looks forward to showcasing her recital, Duncan hopes that her performance conveys the value of storytelling and is impactful to the audience.
“Songs are just more than lyrics and just singing it. There’s obviously that entertainment factor of it, but at the same time, there are songs that connect to you. Maybe at the end of the recital, they can go and find those songs that have meaning and connection with them that relate to either a story they’ve been through or going through,” she said.
After Duncan graduates, she plans to work at her local preschool for a couple of years and get back into songwriting. Outside of her musical background, she enjoys baking, reading and spending time with her family and boyfriend. Duncan’s biggest inspirations in life are her devoted parents, Bill and Dianna, as they taught her the importance of a strong work ethic.
For students that will have to prepare for their own senior lecture-recitals, Duncan says, “Just breathe a lot, everything will be fine. Be prepared to be flexible and stay on top of your practicing. Remember to have fun and make the performance reflect who you are.”
Duncan’s recital will take place on Sunday, March 16, at 5 p.m. in the Blankenship Recital Hall. The performance is free and open to the public. It will also be live-streamed on UTM Music’s YouTube channel.
