By Brian Cassett
Professors from the University of Maryland School of Music performed at the Faculty Noon Recital on Tuesday, November 29th. Showcased at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, students saw faculty present their skills, making this a unique opportunity.
The recital started with an operatic performance by professor Teri Bickham, accompanied on piano by professor Steven Bailey. Bickham is an alumni and assistant professor of voice at the school of music, and performed two songs, including “Despedida” and “Love Let the Wind Cry”. In the audience was Jonas Rimkunas, a graduate student of opera and the lead role in the fall opera, Albert Herring.
“I really liked her consistency of tone. I like her commitments to the wording of the story of the pieces she did.” Rimkunas said.
He also explained that the recital gives students from different interests a special look at the other disciplines.
“So, we in the voice department hear a lot of vocalists and we don’t hear any of the instrumentalists usually, unless we go to a recital,” he said.
Rimkunas said that “…it’s really nice to hear not only some other things besides voice but also to hear what our faculty has to offer.”
The next performance highlighted professor Emily Tsai on the oboe, professor Rita Sloan on the piano, and professor Joseph Grimmer on the bassoon, all performing two pieces, called “Dialogues” and “Allegro Con Brio.”
Current graduate student and music performance major Temon Birch has studied under Grimmer since high school and credits him for being one of the reasons for coming to the University of Maryland.
“He’s been looking out for me so long and here I am, about six years later still working with him, working hand in hand with him all the time.” said Birch.
The recital additionally showcased another operatic accompanied by the piano, and then a medley of songs from the musical, West Side Story.
The recital ended with a performance by Juilliard graduate and professor at UMD, Kevin Short. One of his songs was based on an excerpt of Shakespeare called, “Fear No More the Heat o’ the Sun,” accompanied by pianist and professor Lester Green.
The audience was filled with students and faculty alike, and each time a performance would come to an end, a roar of applause would routinely begin. Noticeably, students who were invested nodded their heads to the melody of the instruments. These events provide an opportunity for the students to see their professors outside of the classroom.
After the performance, his students were eager to bring him compliments and conversation. As a sixth year participant, Short explained how this experience is helpful for him and his students.
[It’s] one thing for me to tell my students to do things, it’s another thing for them to see me practice what I preach,” Short said.
Featured Image: The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center on Monday, Dec. 4, 2023. Photo by Brian Cassett
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