On Friday, Oct. 9, Evans Hall was filled with all different types of music: fast paced, slow paced, exuberant, solemn…the list is never ending. On this night, the Connecticut College Department of Music presented Prism: An Ensemble Sampler, an hour-long concert featuring performances by some of Conn’s music ensembles. The program included performances from the Concert Band, Camel Heard, Traditional Jazz Band, Jazz Ensemble and Orchestra.
The concert began with a performance by the small choral group, Camel Heard. Conducted by Assistant Professor of Music Wendy Moy and accompanied by Professor of Music John Anthony, Camel Heard performed two selections from The Longest Night, a piece composed by Timothy C. Takach. Following this performance, the CC Concert Band performed three pieces. Conducted by Adjunct Associate Professor of Music Gary Buttery, the Concert Band performed “Albanian Dance” by Shelley Hanson, “Lied ohne Worte” by Rolf Rudin, and “Bayou Breakdown” by Brant Karrick.
Concert Band flutist Tanya Songtachalert ’18 commented, “I think the concert went amazingly well… I loved playing in the sampler because when I went to this concert last year, I was so amazed that I joined the group myself! I’m hoping this concert was as inspiring to others as it was to me.”
The Traditional Jazz Band, also directed by Professor Buttery, performed “Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans?” by Eddie De Lange and “Exactly Like You” by Dorothy Fields and Jimmy McHugh. The Traditional Jazz Band consisted of a double bass player, trumpet player, singer, clarinet player and guitarist. Jazz continued to fill the audience members’ ears with the Jazz Ensemble’s performance of “Son of Road Time” by Toshiko Akiyoshi and Isfahan by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn.
The CC Orchestra, directed by Assistant Professor of Music Mark Seto, closed the concert. Comprised of New London community members, Conn students, Conn faculty, USCGA students and high school students from around the New London area, the orchestra performed the last movement from Antonín Dvorák’s New World Symphony. Professor Seto expressed his enthusiasm for both this specific piece of music as well as the sampler as a whole. “It has been very rewarding to work on Dvorak’s New World Symphony with the orchestra this semester.” Seto also commented that this sampler “is a great way for the Music Department to showcase the breadth of our ensemble offerings. It’s pretty unusual for a college of our size to have such a wide range of music performance opportunities.”
Orchestral violinist Susanna Dolan ’17 said, “I enjoyed playing in the sampler. It was nice to see all the other musical ensembles, since it is not often that we have the opportunity to interact with and hear the work of the other ensembles.” Dolan said further that her favorite part of the concert was that “it gives us, the performers, an opportunity to perform more than once per semester.” Like Songtachalert, Dolan expressed the view that the sampler “is also a great opportunity to hopefully encourage students who may be unsure if they want to join an ensemble, to join one or more of the diverse ensembles available.”
Prism: An Ensemble Sampler, showcased the great musical talent of our campus (as well as various performers from around the larger New London community) as much as it highlighted the strength of Conn’s Music Department. These ensembles will continue to perform throughout the semester. Below is a list of dates and information regarding these performances.
Fall Choral Concert: Firsts
Featuring the regional premiere of Timothy Takach’s “The Longest Nights” (joint commission) by the Camel Heard and the inaugural appearance of the Chorale
Wendy Moy, director
Sunday, November 22, 7:30 p.m., Evans Hall
A Celebration of the Festival of Lights: CC Concert Band
Gary Buttery, director
Monday, December 7, 7 p.m., Evans Hall
Swinging Sounds of the Season: Traditional Jazz Band and Jazz Ensemble
Gary Buttery, director
Wednesday, December 9, 7 p.m., Evans Hall
Dvorak’s Ninth: Orchestra Concert Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9 (“From the New World”) and other works inspired by travel
Mark Seto, conductor
Thursday, December 10, 7 p.m., Evans Hall
Percussion Ensemble and New Music Concert: Peter Jarvis, director
Tuesday, December 15, 7 p.m., Evans Hall •
