Cat Ardes
Arts & Culture Editor

This past weekend might be considered the weekend of music at the VPAC for students in the Music Department at Millersville. On Sunday, February 23, 2014 four separate recitals took place at the Winter Visual and Performing Arts Center on campus. Each of these recitals are prepared by the students for months ahead of time with rigorous practice each week to make sure their recital is one of the best performances for themselves during their college career. The Junior recitals of Israel Gonzalez and Jordan Shomper were performed together to begin the evening, followed by the Junior recital of Chad Bodley and ending Sunday evening with the Senior recital of R. Freddie Lewis III.

Chad Bodley performed the bass guitar for his junior recital.
Chad Bodley performed the bass guitar for his junior recital.

Israel Gonzalez and Jordan Shomper shared the stage together for their recitals. Gonzalez performed all of his pieces on clarinet while Shomper performed all of his pieces as a tenor. Gonzalex is student of Dr. Christy Banks and Shomper is a student of Professor Kristin Sims. Jordan Shomper performed many of his pieces with Dr. Xun Pan on stage and began the performances with “In quegli anni” by Mozart and “If with all your hearts’ by Mendelssohn. Gonzalez performed “Solo de Concours” composed by Messager with Dr. Pan on piano. Leading into the Lament section of the performances, Shomper opened with “In van preghi” by Paolo Tosti and “Candide’s Lament” by Bernstien. Gonzalez performed “Rhapsody” by Osbourne as a solo on stage. Followed by Lament, Love began with Shomper performing “Lydia” by Faure as a solo and “Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal” by Quilter with Dr. Pan on piano. Gonzalez came on the stage next performing eight pieces by Bruch called “VI. Nachtgesang” with fellow students, Emma Noble on cello and Sarah Newswanger on piano. The section Legends bringing an end to their performance brought a final performance by Shomper singing “Der Erlkönig” composed by Schubert and “The Foggy, Foggy Dew” by Britten with Dr. Pan on piano. Shomper, Gonzalez and Newswanger shared the stage again to perform pieces by Harris called “Clerihew Songs”. And finally to end the first of the performances, Rick Ferrarelli joined Gonzalex on stage for “Validation” by Percival as they both played the clarinet.

Jordan Shomper, tenor, and Israel Gonzalez, clarinet, performed a duo junior recital.
Jordan Shomper, tenor, and Israel Gonzalez, clarinet, performed a duo junior recital.

As the evening moved forward, Chad Bodley was next to perform his Junior recital on bass guitar. He is a student of Professor Michael Vitale and was assisted by Justin McLaughlin on stage. Bodley would perform a total of eight pieces beginning with five pieces, “Das Wohltemperierte Klavier Prelude No. 1” in C Major on BWV 846, “Cello Suite No. 2” in D minor on BWV 1008, “Jesus bleibet meine Freud” “Cello suite No. 2 in D minor”, and “Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major” all of which were by the composer, Bach. Bodley then moved onto one piece, “Eusebius” composed by Schumann, followed by Mozart’s “Piano Sonata No. 11”. Bodley ended his Junior recital with a pieces composed by Paganini called “Caprice 24”.

Freddie Lewis performed several numbers on the trumpet for his senior recital at the VPAC.
Freddie Lewis performed several numbers on the trumpet for his senior recital at the VPAC.

To end the evening of recitals, R. Freddie Lewis III performed his Senior recital on trumpet playing a total of seven songs. Lewis is a student of Dr. N. Keith Wiley. Dr. Pan on piano, Gentry Stoltzfus on trumpet, David Mengel on trumpet, Jordan Shomper playing French horn, Jolene Stankiewitch on euphonium, Demetrius Archer on tuba, Kyle Montondo on guitar, Joseph Migliore performing bass guitar, Klaudellsh Larieux on piano, and Matthew Woodson on drums were several students that joined Lewis throughout his senior recital. The songs he performed for the evening were “Sonata Op. 18” by Hansen, “Dancer in the Dark” by Björk, Aria con Variazioni by Handel, “The Promise of Living from The Tender Land” composed by Copland, Trumpet Concerto in E-Flat Major by Hayden and Simple Song composed by Bernstein. To end his senior recital, Lewis performed Hallelujah composed by Botti with several students on stage with him to bring this song together.