California State University, Stanislaus’ (Stan State), very own music program faculty performed their annual concert for the public on Feb. 25 at the Bernell and Flora Snider Recital Hall.

The Department of Music holds an annual concert entailing a few of the faculty showcasing their musical caliber to the public.

The concert had five pieces performed by eight phenomenal performers. The program started with Myriam Cottin-Rack, Violin with piano accompanist Sarah Chan. Cottin-Rack performed “Sonata for Violin and Piano, No. 4, op. 23 in A minor I. Presto” by Ludwig van Beethoven.

Both soloist and pianist led the piece through an encouraging dynamic between the harmony and technicalities the piece called for. A grandiose, yet warming, sound from Cottin-Rack echoed through the hall as Chan reflected constant support from her melodious performance. 

The concert ended with “Concerto No. 2 in D Major” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Dr. Jeannine Dennis played a three-part flute concerto with the impressive technical ability to lure the ear into the details of the piece. 

A crowd favorite was “Sa nu merg dup-un strai” by Bibi Bote. Dr. Daniel Davies played the cello warmly as Jared Eben accompanied him elegantly on the piano.

“I don’t know why, just the way they played it. It sounded so well together,” Kevin Mosqueda (freshmen, Music) said. ”It just sounded so really synced-in. I liked the emotion that came out of that song. It just sounded really powerful.”

The concert gave a satisfying taste to the crowd, initiating a showcase of engaging storytelling pieces that led the ear meticulously.

The concerts in the music program pave way to a tumultuous cry of finely tuned musicians from both faculty and students; however, the crowd was quite low in numbers for the faculty concert.

Stan States music department website merely states information regarding location, time, parking lot accommodation and a confirmation for given observation credit to students taking a music course for general education.

Jasmine Woodall, the student recruitment coordinator in the music program, pointed out the ways in which she hears about concerts at Stan State.

“I sometimes hear the faculty members themselves announce the recital. If not, I always see the posters around the music department,” Woodall said.

Information is made public via the Stan State music program website, the University calendar and posters placed around campus. A recent and successful form of advertisement medium is Livestream,  as noted by Dr. Sarah Chan (Assistant Professor of Music, Keyboard Studies/Music Theory).

“Announcements are also made through media including radio (semestrial announcements through Capital Public Radio, the local National Public Radio station), area newspapers (The Modesto Bee weekend events listings), printed events calendars (Department of Music as well as the CSU Stanislaus School of the Arts events listings), and concert programs produced on- and off-campus (events listings in concert programs of the Department of Music and the Gallo Center for the Arts in Modesto),” Chan said.

The Fresno State music program calendar website regarding the faculty concert on April 23 shares information regarding the pieces, names of the faculty, and the accompanists playing in the recital. Gallo Center for the Arts in Modesto website relatively states detailed information of their upcoming concerts.

The progress with advertisement through the music department and its website is not to show the lack of appreciation for the faculty from the music students.

In fact, students like Elyce Gleason (junior, Music), shared a high regard toward these concerts.

“It’s always exciting being reminded of all the talent that our faculty possesses,” Gleason said. “I think they are all incredible performers and getting to watch them show off their craft is really uplifting and inspiring, so I always look forward to watching them perform.”

There is enough evidence to show that the music program holds an ensemble of excellent musicians, yet communication for these concerts within the community and local schools leaves room for improvement. 

The faculty and students of the music department share an interest that carries well into their careers. Acknowledging these performances fuels the musicians at Stan State to continue sharing their passion with audiences. Music sharing is a human behavior activity through elements of technology or attendance via live concerts.  In other words, musicking, a coined term by Christopher Small (“The Meaning of Performing and Listening”).

“Great music carries a distinct life and a dynamic message, ready to be birthed and spoken at every moment of its creation, interpretation, and performance in time,” Dr. Chan said. “Listen closely, intently and with an expectant heart and mind, ready to discover new things at every turn and shaping of a musical moment. One may in fact find a greater sense of wonder, appreciation and insight than one might have otherwise thought impossible within the span of an hour’s time.”

For more information about the music program concert events at Stan State, visit www.csustan.edu/music.