NATS Competition!

On October 22, 2016, eleven students from College of the Ozarks traveled to Southwest Baptist University to compete in the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS). Students enrolled in applied voice lessons were chosen to compete in this challenging vocal competition. The students participating included Caroline Jackson, Josiah Mullins, Madeline Clem, Madeline Davis, Devan Spady, Jonathan Kirkland, Hannah Sanders, Lynsey Richardson, Miranda Palmer, Sierra Johnson, and Lydia Burnett.

NATS is comprised of two categories: Musical Theater and Classical. It is then broken into Upper Division and Lower Division. The lower division students prepare three pieces and the upper division prepare four. The adjudicators were comprised of music professors from the various colleges that competed, including College of the Ozarks, Southwest Baptist University, Evangel, Drury, and other universities in the area.
The day dawned cold and sunny as students loaded into the van at 7:45 am, waiting for last minute stragglers. Students traveled to Bolivar, Missouri. Anxiety permeated the atmosphere as some paced and other downed cups of water, preparing for their 10 minutes with the judges. Practice rooms were full to the brim with competitors squeezing in last minute preparation.
The competition is very demanding, but it provides a great experience for students. Furthermore, it gives them both positive and critical feedback from the judges. Josiah Mullins placed first in upper division Musical Theater and second in upper division Classical, Madeline Clem placed first in upper division Classical and third in upper division Musical Theater, and Madeline Davis placed second in upper division Musical Theater. We are very proud of them all!

MTNA Fall Piano Festival

On Saturday, October 15, 2016, the College of the Ozarks Music Department hosted the MTNA Chapter Fall Piano Festival. This festival is a chance for local elementary and high school students to perform in front of judges and receive feedback on their playing. At the end of the day, there was a recital featuring the students that played exceptionally well.

This festival also allowed C of O piano majors to practice critical listening skills by letting them judge the competitors. Kaylen Draschil (sophomore) said, “It was wonderful to be able to see what it’s like to actually judge a competition after being judged for so many years.” The judges also got a chance to showcase their talents at the encore of the afternoon recital.

Dr. Clara Christian, C of O piano professor, said that “This was an exciting opportunity for college piano students to judge beginning through high school students and provide feedback for them; the college students did a wonderful job, writing comments, evaluating performances, and providing grades and written feedback.  Then the college students finished off by performing at the end of the recital! 

The community teachers were very appreciative, and thanked me multiple times. The students loved having the chance to perform in a recital hall and play for a new audience on a lovely 9-foot Steinway piano.”

 

 

Faculty Recital October 5, 2016

This past Wednesday, October 5^th, College of the Ozarks Music Department presented recital featuring music faculty in the Newman Recital Hall. A total of seven faculty members performed various pieces ranging from Mozart to an original composition written by Dr. Carlson, our newest full-time professor.

            Dr. Cornish, chorale and choir director, performed “Anthem” by Benny Andersson, Tim Rice, and Bjorn Ulvaeus, from the musical Chess. Dr. Cornish also performed “Chanson Triste,” a piece by Henri Duparc. 

            Next was Mr. Bob Smither, brass instructor. Mr. Smither performed the first movement of Johann Hummel’s Trumpet Concerto, “Allegro con spirit,” accompanied by Mr. Caleb Lawson on the piano. 

            Brian Christian played “Prelude in G# minor” Op. 32, No 12 by Sergei Rachmaninoff, an intense, melancholy piece featuring cascading notes and a stirring climax.

            Following Mr. Christian’s performance was adjunct voice professor, Mrs. Melanie Clevenger, who performed “Tomorrow’s Work Undone,” which was written by Dr. Carlson and features the poetry of Paul Duggan. Mrs. Clevenger was accompanied by Dr. Clara Christian. Dr. Carlson said, “I was thrilled and ecstatic by the sensitive performance of Mrs. Melanie Clevenger and Dr. Clara Christian. They brought the music and poetry to life in a thoughtful and vivid way.” Mrs. Clevenger also performed a humorous piece from the one act operetta, “The Telephone,” entitled “Hello! Oh, Margaret, It’s You” by Gian Carlo Menotti. Mrs. Clevenger was accompanied on this piece by Caleb Lawson.

            Dr. Kevin Powers played the trumpet on the piece “Most Saint Michel” by Geoffrey Robbins, and was accompanied by Dr. Clara Christian.

            Our professor of Music History and Piano, Dr. Clara Christian, performed the third movement from Mozart’s Sonata in F Major, “Allegro Assai”.

The Faculty Recital was a fantastic show of musicianship and vocal prowess which was received by an enthusiastic audience.

Guest Recital: Genevieve Fulks and Brian Christian

On September 22nd, College of the Ozarks students had the opportunity to hear an assortment of American pieces by composers such as Bernstein, Copland, and Barber; and premier performances of piano arrangements of Ozark folk songs by pianist Brian Christian. 

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Performing as a guest artist was Genevieve Fulks, a local vocal performer, former member of the Knoxville Opera Ensemble, and currently working with the Springfield Regional Opera.

Brian Christian, graduate of Peabody Conservatory of music and currently working as faculty at College of the Ozarks, is a freelance composer, having written an operetta based on "The Little Prince", several pieces for solo piano, and arrangements for piano, as were performed during this concert.

The program began with Leonard Bernstein's light-hearted song cycle I Hate Music, a piece sung from the perspective of a ten-year-old girl named Barbara who expresses her child-like outlook on science, art, and life.

The next piece was "Laura's Song" from the opera The Tender Land, by Aaron Copland.  The song is a soliloquy by Laurie, a high school senior due to graduate the next day, pondering on the vastness of the opportunities before her: "The time has grown so short;" the piece concludes, "the world so wide."

Then came the song cycle Hermit Songs by Samuel Barber, a collection of poems written by irish monks, translated to English and set to music.  Most deal with spiritual topics, such as The Crucifixion, and St. Ita's Vision while others deal with the everyday life of a monk like The Monk and his Cat, and The Desire for Hermitage.

After the intermission, Ms. Fulks and Mr. Christian performed Cowboy Songs by Libby Larsen, a collection of songs that capture the spirit of the young, wild west, in its romance, its strong work ethic, and the danger of uncivilized folks.
The next piece was a spiritual song, In That Morning singing of the hope of Jesus's return and our resurrection into new life.

The final section of the program consisted of three Ozarks folksongs, arranged for piano and voice by Brian Christian.  The first piece, Blind Boy, was a sweet but sad song about a young blind boy who despite his lack of sight remains cheerful and hopes in God's goodness even to his death.  The second piece relates the fevered dreams of a drunkard who, horrified by the visions pervading his sleep, vows to give up the drink and lead an honorable life.  The third song is a heartfelt cry of a mother to her wayward son to return home to her, where he shall find forgiveness for his ways.


Students enjoyed the presentation, and were inspired towards their own further study in music:  Jordy Hake shared that he was "inspired by the compositional techniques employed both by Barber in his monk songs, and Mr. Christian in his arrangements."  Laura Berthold said "While I enjoyed the entire selection of songs, I particularly enjoyed Mr. Christian's arrangements and Ms. Fulks' interpretations."