By Allison Davis
Elm Staff Writer
Choir and Band students have been working hard since September in preparation for their holiday concerts. The Washington College Department of Music has stayed busy during these last few weeks of school with its student performances, concert series, and chamber recitals.
A number of ensembles of students, professors, and members of the community performed on Nov. 12 and the chorus’ successful debut concert on Nov. 19 earned a standing ovation from a packed Hotchkiss Recital Hall.
Sophomore Courtney Fussell was a solo choral performer at the concert. She has practiced all semester with her private lessons teacher for the concert. Fussel said she was “nervous about the performance and forgetting the words to the song,” but in the end, “it all went well.”
Each student practices individually with their professor throughout the semester. As the concert draws closer, they begin to practice with an accompanist to get acclimated to the addition of the piano to their music. The symphonic band and chorus will be performing on Dec. 2 at 6:30 p.m. in Decker Theater. The band is a larger group of student musicians, with both woodwind and brass instruments.
As is the case with all the Festival of the Arts events hosted by the music and drama departments, the band and chorus concert is free and open to the public.
“All we request is that you bring either a non-perishable food item or a cash donation to the food pantry,” said Assistant Professor of Music Jon McCollum. “The faculty and students involved in the arts here at Washington College wanted to start a tradition of providing programs to help provide for those in need.”
That same week, the string ensemble will host a concert on Tuesday Dec. 4 at 8 p.m. in Hotchkiss Hall. The last performance of the semester will be the Electronic Music Showcase on Thursday Dec. 6 at 8 p.m. in Hotchkiss Hall. You won’t want to miss these holiday shows that are truly a treat for the whole campus.