The guitar ensemble performs their first piece 2-3 by Andrew Bergeron. A video of entire program is available on Facebook – Photo by Aquinas College Music Department’s Facebook
By Joel Grimsley, Arts Editor, and Ashlyn Armock, Aquinas Reporter
On Sunday, March 2, there was a recital consisting of Aquinas’ College Band, Guitar ensemble, and Chamber Strings, as well as a saxophone quartet.
The concert began with the Guitar Ensemble, who performed two pieces written by Andrew Bergeron, the students’ instructor. The first piece was 2-3, which “is a fairly relaxed piece that changes time signatures throughout,” said ensemble member sophomore Skylar Hanselman. Their second song was the Cactus Dance, which “was definitely my favorite,’ said Hanselman. “It’s very different from anything we’ve played for the ensemble and it has a repeated riff throughout that is almost reminiscent of the style of rock.”
When asked about the concert, Hanselman said “I thought the concert was really fun, it was nice to see the other ensembles perform and to be part of it.” Despite the decrease in members in the guitar ensemble, Hanselman commented on how intimate it felt with less people this year, and that despite the size, that “we have improved a lot since last spring.”
“We also have a few members who just recently started playing guitar and they killed it,” said Hanselman.
The guitar ensemble was followed by Aquinas’ College Band, which consisted of 44 students, led and conducted by Professor of Music and Instrumental Music Director, Thomas Polett. The impressive range of instruments in AQ’s Band include an oboe, piccolo, bassoon, tuba, euphonium and groups of flutes, saxophones, trombones, trumpets, clarinets, horns and percussion instruments.
The banners outside of the Art & Music Center – Photo by Ashlyn Armock
The second half of the concert started with the Chamber Strings under the direction of Joseph Opera. They performed three pieces, Symphony No. 8, op. 88 by Antonin Dvorak Arr. Sandra Dackow, She will Hang the Night with Stars by William Hofeldt, and Serenade for String Orchestra by Norman Leyden. While the Chamber Strings played only the last movement of Symphony No. 8 by Dvorak, the Finale, they performed all 4 movements of Serenade for String Orchestra by Leyden, the Prelude, Fugue, Nocturne, and Cakewalk.
The recital concluded with a saxophone quartet who had been taught by Adjunct Associate Professor Gary McCourry. The pieces performed include: A Study In Contrasts, movements I. The Demure and II. The Delightful by Sammy Nestico, Sarabande from 2nd English Suite by J.S. Bach, and When I’m 64 by John Lennon and Paul McCartney arranged by Ramon Ricker. The diversity in pieces offered the audience a grand finale for the recital.
“It was fun! I’ve never been to a band concert on campus and I’ll definitely be going to more in the future. I loved all the music and seeing everyone showcase their hard work,” said student Olivia White.
The band concert is a highlight of the strengths of liberal arts colleges, where non-music majors can participate in such events. Particularly for the guitar ensemble, Hanselman pointed out that “we have people from a number of different disciplines, the majority of people are not music majors, so it’s a really fun way to come together and make music regardless of musical background.”
The entire performance can be found in the link below:
The Saint 