The Howard Music Department is giving students, both in the program and outside of it, much to anticipate this semester.
Jim Holleman, head of the department, said that this semester will be even more active than the last, especially because of the quantity of upcoming student performances. “The students have spent fall semester preparing, so we start to see more individual recitals,” he said.
The department, Holleman said, has expanded in the 18 years he has been here from putting on 15 or 20 concerts a year to 100 or more concerts every year for the school and the community. “That’s counting student recitals, faculty recitals, jazz, guest artists, the Professional Artist Series, all that stuff. So it kind of gives a sense of how active we are as a department.”
Tomorrow, Chris McCourry, teacher of music and jazz musician, will be performing in Markel Auditorium in his Faculty Recital. The concert begins at 8 p.m.
“For this recital in particular, he’s included so many other faculty members from the music department and from the theater department, and one student as well,” Holleman said. “The repertoire that he’s chosen is both very interesting and very challenging.”
McCourry’s recital will feature pieces from composers as diverse as Johann Altenburg, Paul Hindemith, and Frank Zappa.
Other than recitals, some highlights this semester include the final installment of this year’s Performing Artist Series with the world-class a capella group CANTUS Jan. 31, the musical “The Drowsy Chaperone” over Parents’ Weekend at the end of February, and the 4th annual Liberal Arts Jazz festival, which will feature guest artists such as world famous trumpet player Vinnie DiMartino. The Orchestra’s two performances will be March 5 and May 7, and the Choir concert will be April 26.
The announcement of the CANTUS performance has caused much excitement among students. Freshman Brendan King, who takes vocal lessons and is a member of both the Chamber Choir and the main choir, said, “I went to a CANTUS performance when I was younger, and they’re a wonderful group of gentlemen… their vocal quality is impeccable and I’m really excited to hear what they have to say about vocal technique and singing in general with the workshop that day as well.”
Freshman Collin Saunders, who sings in the choir and plays cello in the orchestra, as well as taking cello and voice lessons, is very excited about the orchestra’s upcoming concert, which will feature Beethoven’s Fifth. “It’s very fun, it’s got a great cello part, and it’s not, you know, killer in its difficulty, but it’s still challenging,” he said.
Holleman, he said, challenged the orchestra significantly last semester, which has improved their comfort and ability. “We’re not all on the edge of our seats all the time now, we can actually kind of focus more on making music and not just playing all the notes.”
Holleman thinks that the concerts that the department puts on are a wonderful opportunity for all students, whether they are studying music or not. Not only are they enriching experiences, but they give students a chance to support their peers from all different areas of study. “They’re able to see these people,” he said, “the hard work they’ve put in and the high level at which they perform… And we present everything free of charge, and it’s just a wonderful part of the four years while you’re here.”
