November 3 MMTA Piano Competition

In the weeks preceding November 3, the strains of Bach, Haydn, Beethoven, Rachmaninoff, Chopin, Debussy, Gershwin, and Scriabin could be heard wafting through the halls of the music building as piano students prepared for the MMTA piano competition. Six students boarded a van the afternoon of November 2: Zach Bryngelson, Laura Berthold, Kaylen Draschil, TJ Goze, Brian Hofmann, and Ryan Moore.

 

Dr. Clara Christian, piano professor, said that “this is the third year our piano department has taken contestants to the MMTA state collegiate auditions held the first weekend of every November. We bring five contestants a year, which is higher than many other colleges and universities and demonstrates the willingness to push towards excellence that characterizes all of our advanced piano students.  

The auditions are held each year at different universities throughout the state of Missouri, and this year it took place at University of Central Missouri-Warrensburg.  All the C of O students reached new levels of achievement with the pieces they were playing, and some of the performances truly represented personal bests. It was also exciting to hear the students play in a hall that's larger than ours, and perform on a Steinway D 9 foot grand piano that's less than a year old.”

October 26 Reformation Concert

On October 26, the Music Department and the BTS Department presented a concert celebrating the 500^th Anniversary of the Reformation. The concert began with student pianists Kaylen Draschil, Brian Hofmann, and Ryan Moore playing selections from Bach’s French Suites. Dr. Clara Christian opened the event with Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in E-flat major.

The Reformation Concert featured performances by the College of the Ozarks Chorale, directed by Dr. John Cornish, and the College of the Ozarks Orchestra, directed by Dr. Luke Carlson. The chorale sang two a capella works: Mendelssohn’s “Psalm 100,” and Dr. Cornish’s arrangement of “All Praise to You.” The orchestra performed Dr. Carlson’s arrangement of “O God, My Faithful God” and the combined forces of chorale and orchestra performed “Hear My Prayer” by Mendelssohn, and “A Mighty Fortress” arranged by Dr. Carlson.

Emily LaVelle was the featured soprano soloist in “Hear My Prayer,” and an octet consisting of Jordan Bryant, Bob Jorash, Asa Boldman, Issac Taylor, Natalie Hensarling, Jennifer Beal, Lydia Burnett, and Lizzie Jordan were featured in Mendelssohn’s “Psalm 100.” 

October 28 MTNA Fall Piano Festival

On October 28th, 2017, College of the Ozarks hosted the MTNA Fall Piano Festival for local piano students. The young performers ranged from five to sixteen years old and had different ranges of skill levels from beginners to advanced players. Students came bright and early Saturday morning to perform two prepared piano pieces for a number of judges, who were piano students from College of the Ozarks.









After the evaluations, all students were invited back to the afternoon recital where some of the young students were selected to play. The recital was concluded with inspiring performances by several of the college student judges. This festival provided a valuable experience for the children and college students alike.

October 21, NATS Voice Competition

On October 19th, the Music Department hosted a recital prior to the National Association of Teachers of Singing vocal competition. According to Dr. Cornish, this recital gave students who were competing the opportunity to experience what the NATS competition would be like. Ten of C of O’s vocal students performed; however, three of the students prepared to perform in both Music Theater and Classical divisions. Each student performed beautifully and kept the audience in awe throughout the two-hour recital.









 On October 21st, College of the Ozarks took the ten students to Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Missouri for the NATS competition. The competition began with our three students competing in the Music Theater divisions. As the day went on, each student performed in front of their respective judges. The first, second, and third place winners were announced shortly after our final student performed. Two C of O students placed in their divisions. Lynsey Richardson, junior, placed second in Lower Division College Women. Jordy Hake, senior, placed third in Upper Division College Men.

September 29, Faculty Piano Recital: Dr. Clara Christian

On September 29, Dr. Clara Christian performed a solo piano recital featuring works by Liszt, Mozart, Rachmaninoff, Christian, and Bolcom. Dr. Christian is an active performer, and this recital is the first of many this season; during the 2017-2018 school year, Dr. Christian will perform at the Franz Liszt Festival and International Competition for Pianists and Duos Ensembles with Piano held at Ohio State University. She will also give recitals at Harding University, John Brown University, and Springfield’s “Midtown Concert Series.”

Dr. Christian began the concert with three movements from Liszt’s Première année: Suisse ("First Year: Switzerland"). Dr. Christian’s Music History students contributed to the program notes as part of a class project; Lydia Burnett writes that “Liszt incorporates Swiss folklore and the beautiful and pensive qualities of nature.”

Next, Dr. Christian played Mozart’s Sonata in F Major, K. 332. According to Olivia Sowell’s program notes, the sonata is rumored to have been written for the purpose of Mozart introducing his wife to his father. There are three movements, and the second, Adagio, is particularly lovely.

Following Mozart, Dr. Christian introduced the audience to Rachmaninoff’s Variations on a Theme by Corelli. The variations are based on Arcangelo Corelli’s theme “La Folia.” Dr. Christian brought out the shifting emotions and moods of each variation, playing with nuance and feeling.

Dr. Christian ended her program with selections by two American composers: William Bolcom and her husband, Brian Christian. She played Brian Christian’s “Nougat” from his Six French Sweets, a piece that merges the structure of a Bach suite with the boogie-woogie. Bolcom’s Dance Portraits incorporates elements of his friendships; Rebecca Stephenson writes that Bolcom composed the “second movement Knock-Stuck  based on Curtis Curtis-Smith, a talented composer known for his syncopated rhythms, and the third movement Abbacadabra expresses a talkativeness often associated with Bolcom’s friend Abba Bogin.” For her encore piece, Dr. Christian improvised the hymn “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.”

Alex McDonald

On September 18th, pianist Dr. Alex McDonald came to C of O as a convocation performer. Before his performance, he taught a masterclass to students in applied piano lessons. Dr. McDonald earned his master’s and doctoral degrees from Juilliard under Yoheved Kaplinsky and Julian Martin.

Ryan Moore, a senior piano major, played the second movement of Schubert’s Wanderer Fantasy for the masterclass. Dr. McDonald emphasized observing the meter (pulse) and bringing out the melody. “Find the dissonance,” he said, “build toward it, then fade away. That’s where the drama is.”

Dr. McDonald used metaphors and similes to better explain musical concepts. TJ Goze, a junior computer science major with a piano minor, played Debussy’s Passepied. Student performers and student observers benefited from Dr. McDonald’s insightful comments, humor, and clear sense of musical direction. 

Later that evening, students gathered in Jones auditorium to hear Dr. McDonald play. Dr. McDonald, who studied the Romantic composer Franz Liszt in his doctoral work, presented a program entirely dedicated to Liszt.

Dr. Clara Christian, professor of piano, said that “It was truly an inspiration and a blessing to have Alex McDonald here: he is very gifted as a performer, but he also has deeply thought-out insights into faith, life, and learning. And has a great sense of humor to boot!”

Theory and composition professor Dr. Luke Carlson described Dr. McDonald’s performance: “With a balanced sense of humor and reverence, Alex McDonald gave a beautiful glimpse into the music of Franz Liszt and his faith in God. McDonald explored three beloved works by the master which he played with elegance, power, and deep lyricism. We were honored to have him share at C of O.”

March 17: Villa Vista Showcase Concert

On March 17, College of the Ozarks students performed in a guest concert at Villa Vista, a performance venue near Table Rock Lake.  Invited to showcase the student talent in the Music Department, the faculty selected a number of student performers from voice, piano, composition, and the C of O String Quartet.

The literature performed included classics such as Porgi, Amor from Mozart's Marriage of Figaro and Debussy's En Bateau from the Petite Suite, as well as more recent compositions "Man About Town" from Young Frankenstein and Poulenc's Capricciso for Two Pianos. The concert also included a premier of a piano suite written by student Jordy Hake and performed by Ryan Moore.

Several voice students performed at the concert, each accompanied by staff accompanist Caleb Lawson. From Mozart's Porgi, Amor by Lydia Burnett, to L'heure exquise by Jennifer Beal, to Mozart's Batti, batti o bel Masetto by Emily Lavelle, the students performed beloved classical literature, much to the delight of the audience.

Students also performed musical theater selections including "Come to Your Senses" sung by Natalie Hensarling, "Man About Town" by Lucas Dahlgren, and "It’s a Perfect Relationship" by Madeline Davis, each of which were received warmly.

The C of O String Quartet also performed, playing Shostakovich's String Quartet in C Major, Op. 49,  and a piece arranged by Kaylen Draschil. The string quartet consists of Kaylen Draschil, viola, Asa Boldman, 1st violin, Tommy Nissen, 2nd violin, and Collin Hill, cello.

A few piano pieces were performed as well. In addition to the suite premiered by Ryan Moore, Loran Wiley performed Toccata No. 2 by George Anthiel and was joined by Caleb Vester in Capriccio for Two Pianos by Francis Poulenc.

Overall, the performance was an amazing experience. The students enjoyed the opportunity to perform for an outside audience, and their performances were well received.   Kaylen Draschil said, "It was a good opportunity to perform for an audience I don't usually get to. Also, it was good to have my arrangement performed."  Lydia Burnett said, "Performing at Villa Vista is an opportunity I will not soon forget." Jordy Hake shared, "It was different performing for an audience that's not composed of peers: It provided a fresh new approach to performance." The Music Department looks forward to continued concerts at Villa Vista through Neighbors and Friends of Table Rock Lake.