While others were attending haunted houses, Associate Professor of Music Susan Buehler, with the aid of a few students, entertained and educated her audience during her faculty recital Tuesday.
Buehler, costumed as a witch, showcased her favorite Italian opera selections from the 16th century to the 1920s.
“One of the reasons I do recitals is to perform for students and to teach them,” she said. “I hope they can learn about stage presence, pronunciation and vocal technique.”
To add a little more Halloween fun to the recital, Buehler included students as narrators who read program notes giving translations and background information before each of the pieces in costume.
“The more times students involved in music get up in front of people to speak or sing, the better,” Buehler said. “The delivery for musicians is very important.”
Junior Jena Dick played the part of a gypsy and delivered the notes for “La Zingara.”
“I definitely learned a lot by watching her perform,” Dick said. “In voice lab they teach us voice and confidence. Speaking in front of a group gains confidence.”
Other narrators included a convict, a gondolier and a German maiden. Junior Jessica Lenhart was the maiden torn between two suitors. She said while the costumed narrators may not be appropriate for more formal recitals, the audience seemed to enjoy them.
“I think it gives them something different,” Lenhart said.
Lenhart said Buehler was the highlight of the program, despite the unusual narrators.
“She’s pretty much amazing,” Lenhart said. “She just blows me away sometimes.”
Sophomore Dana Hacker was not a narrator, but just a student trying to learn from Buehler and her music.
“She is very composed and proper and professional,” Hacker said. “The music was all different, but they all had the same theme because they were Italian composers.”
Professor of Music John Buehler said faculty recitals serve an academic purpose for the professors involved.
“Faculty can further explore their own areas of interest and provide great examples to students,” he said. “It is very similar to faculty in other disciplines who present papers.”
Susan Buehler said this recital was the first in a series, with each future recital focusing on another set of composers based on language.