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.

 

 

 

 

March 11: Federation of Music Competition

Last Saturday, piano professor Dr. Clara Christian took five piano students to compete in the Federation of Music Clubs Competition in Jefferson City. Among the five were Laura Berthold, Loran Wiley, Ryan Moore, Kaylen Draschil, and Brian Hofmann. Ryan Moore won the McHaney award and Loran Wiley won the McClure award.

The students also had the chance to visit the capitol building. Brian Hofmann enjoyed the trip, saying, “It’s good to be around people that share your same interests, per say, and seeing the beauty of the architecture of our state capitol. And, just like any pianist, there are always things you can work on. We’re all our worst critics, I guess. After a performance, you kind of hear all the mistakes you made; you don’t really hear all the good musicianship. In retrospect, I believe I played to the best of my ability.”

Dr. Christian also remarked on the experience, saying, "I love taking my students to competitions--of course I'm excited to have two winners this time. But winners or not, each student learns a lot about performing on a new piano for a new audience, and they get feedback from the judges that sometimes can make a great impact on their playing.  It also builds camaraderie and mutual support among the piano students." 




The Music Department is very proud of Ryan and Loran for their well-deserved awards, and of all the students who performed in the competition.

March 7th Guest Artists: Fuse Trio

On Tuesday, March 7^th, the Music Department presented Fuse Trio, a Classical/Jazz fusion group. The group is made up of three professional musicians; Dr. Clara Christian, a piano professor at College of the Ozarks, saxophone professor Mr. Matthew Sintchak at the University of Wisconsin, and clarinetist Mr. David Gould, who is the Artistic Advisor, Artist Relations Manager, and Product Specialist for Vandoren.

The eclectic music they played was both beautiful and appealing. They started with a four movement piece called Four Seasons of Buenos Aires by Astor Piazzolla. They followed this by playing a Duo Sonata by Gregory Wanamaker, which featured the alto saxophone and the clarinet in a four movement piece. The next piece, written by Phil Woods, was called “With Love for Jill,” and was written specifically for the Fuse Trio. They ended the program with “upon finding absence” by Christian Ellenwood, a beautiful and sad piece written after the passing of a friend. The Music Department was thrilled to host such talented and musically expressive performers.

2017 Spring Musical: Meet Me in Saint Louis

On Friday, March 3^rd, 2017 the College of the Ozarks Theater Department put on the production Meet Me in Saint Louis, with Dr. John Cornish as the Music Director. The musical focuses on an everyday middle class family in the 1900s. The family consists of the parents, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, their four daughters, Rose, Esther, Agnes, “Tootie,” and their grandpa. Their kitchen maid, Katie also plays a big role in the family.

The happy family lives in St. Louis, with Mr. Smith struggling in his job as a lawyer. Rose and Esther have their heads full of beaus and their father is oblivious. One humorous point in the musical is when Rose is waiting for a phone call from a Warren Sheffield and the whole family except Mr. Smith knows and is trying to keep him away from the telephone. Their attempts are useless and when the phone rings, Mr. Smith answers the phone, to the entire family’s chagrin.

Meanwhile, Esther is in love with John Truett, “The Boy Next Door” and just wants to talk to him and wishes he would notice her. Agnes and Tootie cause all sorts of trouble and misunderstandings lead to John Truett being attacked. The climax of the musical is when Mr. Smith announces he’s taken a job in New York City and the whole family is moving. This riles the entire family as they have things they love in Saint Louis, especially the World’s Fair. Meet Me in Saint Louis is a show for the whole family to see with drama, humor, romance, and intrigue.