November 14: Hudson Powers Senior Composition Recital

Hudson Powers’ Senior Composition Recital was held on November 14, 2018, in the Newman Recital Hall. Hudson initially studied under Dr. Bruce Gerlach, before finishing his composition degree with Dr. Luke Carlson.

The event began with Hear My Cry, an A capella quartet based on biblical text, performed by Elizabeth Miller, Elizabeth Jordan, Isaac Taylor, and Jordan Bryant. Hudson’s electronic piece Fractal Factory utilizes industrial sounds and subtly nods to the tradition of dubstep. Mixed ensemble Apotheosis featured performers Jenna Carey, Dalton Elery, Benjamin Bradley, and Joshua Koretoff. 

His second electronic piece, Eternium, creates an ethereal soundscape and was written with the idea of artistic creation in mind. Dr. John Cornish performedThe Infinite Horizon Collection, a piano suite with each movement written in a different style. Jennifer Beal joined Dr. Cornish on stage to sing the song cycle Of Planting and Plucking, which is set to the poetry of Amy Lowell. 

The recital concluded with Dance Of The Ancient Celestials, a percussion piece performed by Dylan Coleman and Brian Hofmann.

The Music Department is very proud of what Hudson has accomplished during his time at C of O, and wishes him the best in his future endeavors.

November 11: Laura Berthold Senior Piano Recital

 On November 9, 2018, piano major Laura Berthold presented a senior piano recital. Laura is from the studio of piano professor Clara Christian. The first half of the recital consisted of a prelude and fugue by Johann Sebastian Bach and a sonata by Joseph Haydn. 









After the intermission, Laura played preludes by Frédéric Chopin and Alexander Scriabin. She concluded her recital with two duo pieces by Claude Debussy and Francis Poulenc, joined by piano major Kaylen Draschil. Following graduation, Laura plans to remain active as a performer and a teacher.

October 26: Brahms' Requiem

On October 26, the College of the Ozarks Chorale and Orchestra performed Johannes Brahms’ A German Requiem, op. 45. Luke Carlson conducted, and Rebecca Claborn and John Cornish were soloists. Brahms wrote the Requiem in the wake of his mother’s death. Unlike most requiems, Brahms focuses on the living, not the dead. Each movement is based on a liturgical text. 

Dr. Cornish, the director of Chorale, said that “the Brahms’ Requiem is also an extremely difficult work to perform, and it is truly pushing our Chorale and Orchestra to new levels of musical achievement.” The movements depict a challenge of faith and the peace and triumph of God. As Dr. Carlson wrote in his program note, the “scripture Brahms chose for his Requiem reinforce God’s promise of comfort and the reality of Jesus’ eternal victory over death.”