Recital Time!

    If you’re reading this, you’ve probably noticed the website has gotten a facelift. I hope that everyone finds the new look to be aesthetically pleasing and ergonomic.

    I am excited to announce that my Master of Music degree recital has been scheduled for Saturday November 22nd at 1:00 in the WMU Dalton Recital Hall.* All fingers crossed, the jury will be passed and the date will be kept.

(Note that the time has changed but the date has not. The recital is no longer at 4:00 but at 1:00 instead)

    The program will be the Six Preludes of the Bach Suites for Solo Cello and Bright Sheng’s Seven Tunes Heard in China. Solo Bach is an essential part of the cello repertoire so it belongs on the degree recital. However, I’ve seen many people play entire suites as I did for my undergraduate degree. After experiencing Emilio Colon play all six suites in a single concert, I began envisioning something on a smaller scale that would still convey the scope and breadth of what the cello suites have to say.

    The Sheng pieces were given to me by Crispin Campbell when I was still in high school and I have finally gotten around to learning them. They are, like the Bach Suites, regionalized dances and songs of a diverse continent that imitate a large range of instruments, voices, and ensembles. The Tunes were first recorded by Yo-Yo Ma on his album Solo in a truly magnificent fashion. I hope to also do them justice.

    In addition to this, I’ll be bringing the recital program on tour Up North with three different dates in three different cities: Manistee, Traverse City, and Petoskey. A big thank you to Sarah Helge, Katherine Will, and Joe Fortin for helping organize and providing venues for these concerts.

    Time to practice!