Sipping punch and sampling the provided hors d’ oeuvres, a spellbound audience watched a cabaret-style venue that showcased the talents of thirteen different ensembles. Last Saturday’s Academy Chamber Music Society performance held in Timken Room of Graves Hall was the Society’s featured concert this term. Christopher Walter, Chorus Director and Instructor in Music, said, “It was a wonderful evening and there was a great variety of ensembles. They all worked hard and the result was amazing.” “I thought this [cabaret style] would create an atmosphere that would allow students to appreciate good music and encourage their classmates,” said Holly Barnes, Faculty Advisor to the Chamber Orchestra and Instructor in Music. The several students who played in more than one ensemble certainly deserved congratulations. Although participants among the ensembles overlapped, each group had a distinctive sound created by the diversity of composers and instruments. The pieces ranged from a traditional, classical Mozart to a more contemporary Poulenc (1899-1963). After beginning with a lighthearted Allegro Movement of a Mendelssohn piano quartet, a wind octet played, and the show concluded with a piano, clarinet and cello trio. The program’s coordination required motivation and practice from the students. Unlike the Academy Orchestras, each ensemble had a “coach,” there was no conductor for each piece. In order to ensure faultless pieces, performers had to listen to and rely on each other in the rehearsals leading up to the event. “Chamber music offers a more personal way to perform music. You aren’t in one large orchestra but in a much smaller group. It’s a great place to learn how to perform in a group and play better,” said Barnes. Among the 13 ensembles, the largest containing eight members and the smallest only two. A variety of instruments were represented as well. Flutes trilled with cellos, clarinets wove melodies with deep bassoons and violins harmonized with pianos. Eve Simister ’12, an oboist who performed, said, “Being in a chamber group is great because you learn how to work with others.” Some pieces featured music teachers as well as students. The Sonata by Poulenc featured Neil Fairbairn, a bassoon teacher, and Barnes played in the Mendelssohn quartet. Jinzi Zhang ’11, a performer in the show, said, “I’ve been in [Chamber Music Society] for two terms. We all have been working very hard and I hope it showed.” Kaki Elgin ’09, Co-President of the Chamber Music Society, said, “The concert went very well. Having participated in seven before this one, I can truly say this was one of the best.” The audience witnessed many bows, gave several ovations and heard a truly wonderful show.
