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‘Spectrum’ showcases talent

The university’s Symphony Orchestra, Symphonic Band, Choir, Experimental Jazz Ensemble, and Show Band performed an array of pieces to entertain the crowd last week when the Music Department presented its annual President’s Musical Spectrum in the Assembly Center.Among the crowd were First Year Experience students dressed in white and black, ready, waiting and certainly attentive to the special event that was about to take place.

The Symphonic Orchestra was the first to perform setting the mood for the remainder of the night. Ye Tao, the director and selective students from the orchestra performed “Pirates of the Caribbean ” by Klaus Badelt, with the arrangement by Ted Ricketts. They also played some selections from the play, “The Phantom of the Opera.”

The sounds were familiar “The Phantom of the Opera” is a popular piece among many. Performing next was the Symphonic Band, led by director Michael Hendrix.

The style of music they played helped you imagine that you were going back in time to a period of war. The first selection was “English Country Settings” by Pierre La Plante, followed by “Procession of Nobles from “Mlada” by Nicholas Korsakov arrangement provided by Erik Leidzen.

The University Choir led by Edryn Coleman performed three songs. The first was “Non Nobis Domine” arrangement by Rosephayne Powell, which is Latin for “Not to Us, O Lord, Not to Us”. This was a short hymn used for a prayer of Thanksgiving and expression of humility. They also performed “The Great Commandment” arrangement by Donald Moore and “I Want to be Ready” arrangement by Roy Belfield.

Jennifer Chretien performed a solo to “Good Morning Heartache” with the Experimental Jazz Ensemble accompanying her lead by director, Leroy Hawthorne. Although she started with a bit of microphone trouble she ended her performance on a high note, and the audience was pleased. Gerald Williams, Preston Burnley, and Tramaul Love had solo parts in performing “Hottentot” by John Scofield. These gentlemen performed with two different saxophone types, alto and tenor and a keyboard.

The University Show Band, whose director is Larry Pannell, performed “I’d Rather Go Blind” by Etta James and Dream Girls by Tom Eyen and Henry Krieger. Watching the band perform you could tell the crowd was intrigued by the sounds and captivated with tunes.

The directors gave thanks for the support of the program. Students were encouraged to become a part of any of the musical groups in the department.