On Friday, May 8, Washburn music department presented the President Concert at White Concert Hall. President JuliAnn Mazachek was present at this event. The concert started at 7:30 p.m.

Kelly Erby, dean college of arts and sciences and professor of history, described the event. 

“We are finishing up our spring semester,” Erby said. “We are preparing for commencement next week, and tonight’s concert is such a special part of the celebrations. It represents a year of really hard work by our student musicians for our graduating seniors. It represents the culmination of years of hard work, literally hundreds of lessons, practice sessions and performances.”

Colette Cluke, freshman vocal performance major, described the overall experience of this concert. 

“It was really cool,” Cluke said. “I feel like it was a lot of fun, especially like, when you’re in your specific field, you don’t always get to see everyone else and how well they’re progressing. It’s just really cool to see at the end of the year.” 

Altogether, nine pieces were performed in the concert. It opened with the Washburn University Symphony Orchestra and Washburn University Chorale under the direction of Raffaele Cipriano, performing “Overture to Nabucco” by Giuseppe Verdi and” Va, pensiero,” the chorus from Nabucco by Giuseppe Verdi. 

The Washburn University Percussion Group then performed “Escape: Sextet for Triangles by Drew Worden,” conducted by Von Hansen. This was followed by the Washburn University Chorale and Vox Aura performing “Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel,” arranged by Moses Hogan, also conducted by Cipriano. Vox Aura additionally performed “They Can’t Take That Away from Me” by George Gershwin. 

After intermission, the Honors Woodwind Quintet presented “Suite Bergamasque I. Prelude by Claude Debussy,” arranged by Bill Holcombe, coached by Rebecca Meador. The Washburn University Opera Studio performed selections from Così fan tutte by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart; “Sento, o Dio, che questo piede” and “Soave sia il vento,” directed by Joseph DeSota. 

The Washburn Fetter String Quartet performed “String Quartet No. 12 in F, Op. 96 (“American”), IV. Finale: Vivace ma non troppo by Antonín Dvořák,” coached by Zsolt Eder. Finally, the Washburn University Wind Ensemble concluded the program with “Raise the Roof” by Michael Daugherty, conducted by Anya Pogorelova. 

Leslie Knox, freshman anthropology major and tenor at the concert, shared how he felt in the concert.

“It was great,” Knox said. “It was a very energetic concert. I mean, rarely do I get to go sit down in the audience after I do my stuff. So sitting through the second half, and especially the last song that went on some long ago one day, and that was so big and awesome.”

Knox described his preparation for this concert. He said the choir performed pieces they had been working on throughout the year. He explained that “Va, pensiero” had been practicing since the group’s first concert cycle earlier in the year and had performed many times with the orchestra. He added that Cipriano, who is filling in as director of choirs this year, brought the orchestra and choir together because it is one of his favorite pieces. He said the group really enjoys performing it and had a great time singing it again.

The concert ended at 9 p.m. The audience stood and applauded for a long time at the end of the performance.

Edited by Stuti Khadka