A Couple of Faculty Recitals | Feb. 17 & Mar. 31
On February 17th, Dr. Eric Brisson performed a piano recital that featured works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Felix Mendelssohn and Maurice Ravel. Each work showcased Dr. Brisson’s brilliant technical mastery and true passion for music-making. The chosen pieces fluctuated between movements of bright, lively, fast-paced playing and movements that sounded warmer, sweeter, and slower-paced.
A few standouts from his performance were Mozart’s “Sonata in A minor, K.310 (300d),” Mendelssohn’s “Variations sérieuses, op.54,” and Ravel’s “Sonatine” and “Jeux d’eau.”
On March 31st, Dr. Deanne Mohr performed a piano recital that featured works by Toru Takemitsu, Johann Sebastian Bach, and both Robert & Clara Schumann.
Each work brought something new to the performance from Takemitsu’s “Rain Tree Sketch II” with its fusion of Japanese and French influences, to Bach’s captivating yet quirky “Toccata in C minor, BWV 911” to Robert Schumann’s romantic multi-movement love letter to his wife Clara in “Davidsbündlertänze, op.6.” From the account of Sage Rippiebakke, a Vocal Performance student at Winona State, Dr. Mohr’s recital was a masterclass not only in sonic storytelling, but brought forth some the best faculty talent the WSU Music Department has to offer.
For more information about the Music Department at WSU, contact co-chairs Dr. Eric Brisson at ebrisson@winona.edu and Dr. Deanne Mohr at dmohr@winona.edu.
Spring Choir Concerts | Apr. 19 & May 2
On April 19th, the Winona State choirs performed their “Still I Rise” spring concert at Central Lutheran Church. Under the direction and dedication of Dr. Colleen Chester in collaboration with Dr. Eric Brisson, each choir, from the Chamber Ensemble to the Concert and Treble choirs, each piece was sung with the intention of bringing hope and resilience to the darkest of times.
A few standouts from each choir were Shruthi Rajasakar’s “Numbers,” and Bob Dylan’s “Times they are A’Changing” from the Chamber Ensemble, Jaakko Mantyjaarvi’s “El Hambo” and “It’s You I Like” from Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood arranged by David von Kampen from the Concert Choir, and the world premiere of Claudia Beroukhim’s “Asrar Maedar” from the Treble Chorus.
On May 2nd, the Winona State Concert Choir performed with and had the pleasure of working with the Winona Symphony Orchestra on Marianna von Martines’ major work “Dixit Dominus” at Wesley United Methodist Church. For the entire semester, the Concert Choir worked tirelessly with the help of Dr. Chester to bring Martines’ major Latin Mass to life and her legacy back to forefront amongst other composers of her time like Hayden and Mozart.
A few standouts from the performance included movements one, four, and seven: “Dixit Dominus,” “Juravit Dominus,” and “Et in saecula.”
For more information about the choral programs at Winona State, contact Dr. Colleen Chester at chester.colleen@winona.edu.
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