Music Students Perform 2nd Annual Voice Recital
Last Saturday, the Freshman and Sophomore Music Education and Vocal Performance majors and Music minors performed in Viterbo’s 2nd annual Freshman and Sophomore Voice Recital. Students have spent their spring semester preparing their songs and inviting friends and family to Viterbo for an evening of free music. This was an opportunity for students to demonstrate how much they have grown as performers over the last several years to an audience made up of more than just their own colleagues.
Sophomore Music Education Student, Lydia Mackie spoke about performance nerves, saying, “Studio class is a very safe environment to perform in. There was a bit of uncertainty with the performance in the recital because most of those people never hear me sing. I knew no one would criticize me, so I felt a bit safer in that sense.” Students were able to sing their pieces for their peers in studio class and received constructive feedback from colleagues and professors before performing in the recital.
Deana Schmidt, also a Music Education Major, was excited to perform for a new audience. “It was definitely more nerve racking to perform on Saturday because in studio class everyone has heard us sing before,” said Schmidt, “but with a live audience you never know who is watching. There was also more excitement as well because you didn't know who was out there.” Schmidt recently performed in Viterbo’s opera, “Orpheus in the underworld” as a member of the chorus. “Since I was in the chorus I wasn't singing alone so I felt more supported,” said Schmidt, “But on Saturday it was just me so I had to sing out in a different way. I haven't sung by myself for an audience in a while so I had a lot of nerves and excitement.”
For some students, this was the first time this year that their families were able to see them perform solo pieces. “My family came down and spent the weekend in Lacrosse exploring,” said Mackie. “My family hadn't heard me sing since high school. My sister said she cried when she heard me sing, but my little brother fell asleep.”
The music department hopes to continue the tradition of the Freshman and Sophomore Voice Recital for many years to come. “It is good experience for the underclassmen to prepare for their future recitals. And it’s a great way to get used to performing,” said Schmidt. “Plus it’s a way that the department can support everyone, not just the upperclassmen.”