As the semester’s end draws closer, so do senior recitals for several soon-to-be graduates in the music department.
Professor of Music Trilla Lyerla said seniors not only perform recitals in their primary areas of study, but they also write papers that are graded by the entire music faculty.
“This is a major research endeavor,” Lyerla said. “It is a culmination and combination of all their music studies from teaching music to music theory. This is also a physical manifestation of all their talent.”
Because of the great number of music students, the faculty began to pair students up or allow the students to pick partners if they didn’t want to perform alone. Students who are not music majors are required to perform only a partial recital, which is a 30-minute performance.
Lyerla said she was working with senior Barbara Ludwig on her partial recital on the piano. She said she liked working as a team with her students.
“I’d like to think of myself as a collaborative guide and coach,” Lyerla said. “I help her find literature, master the technique on piano, guide interpretations, encourage and cheer her on.”
Ludwig is paired with senior Scott Driver, who will accompany her on piano and sing a duet with her. Ludwig said that performing with someone else takes the pressure off and that Lyerla has enhanced the experience of preparing a senior recital.
“Trilla Lyerla has made extra time for me in the week to practice with her,” Ludwig said. “She can provide feedback to my performance. She has made herself very available, and that is really comforting.”
As her performance nears, Ludwig said she couldn’t help getting nervous.
“The performance is three weeks away, and I can’t envision it all coming together, but I know it will,” Ludwig said.
Senior Will Weyhrauch has been working with Associate Professor of Music Susan Buehler on picking out his pieces for his partial recital. He said he will be singing with senior Chris Elliot.
“I put a whole semester’s worth of work into this performance,” Weyhrauch said. “I’m not nervous right now, but before I go on stage I will be.”
Senior Christa Webster will be performing percussion with senior Dana Phelps on flute. They have been working with Adjunct Instructor of Music Steve Riley on their pieces. Riley arranged one of the pieces the duo will perform.
Webster said her research paper would be a 25- to 30-page critical analysis about the pieces she has chosen for her recital, but it is the actual performance she is more worried about.
“I’m scared,” Webster said. “When I think about performing, I pee my pants.”