Geneseo’s Department of Music presented a recital highlighting the winners of the annual Geneseo Honors Competition on Saturday Sept. 23 in the Doty Recital Hall.
After recommendations from their professors, the students auditioned during the fall 2017 semester in front of a panel of outside performers and professionals and were named winners for their exceptional performance abilities.
Kicking off the music hour was junior violinist Evelyn Welch, a student of visiting assistant professor of violin Andrew Bergevin. She performed the violin sections from Henryk Wieniawski’s “Concerto No. 2 in D Minor, Op. 22,” alongside adjunct professor of music Jeong-Eun Lee, on piano.
Following Welch were several students from the studio of adjunct professor of music Joan Floriano, including vocal performance major senior Nina Glodstein. Glodstein sang Cécile Chaminade’s “Chanson de Neige” and Mozart’s “Als Luise die Briefe ihres ungetreuen Liebhabers verbrannte.” Glodstein’s voice soared throughout the recital hall, perfectly complimenting her partner, adjunct professor of music Chiao-Wen Cheng, who accompanied her on the piano.
“It was an honor to represent the department and to have been selected by two judges who didn’t previously know the performers auditioning,” Glodstein said.
The recital continued with performances by senior baritone Noah Chichester, senior flutist Megan Petty and second semester junior soprano Maria Floriano.
Next was musical theater major sophomore Brett Hammes, a student of Joan Floriano and the only sophomore selected to perform. He sang two Craig Carnelia songs titled “What You’d Call a Dream” and “Flight.” Hammes captivated the audience, expressing an emotional intelligence far beyond his years.
The penultimate performer, musical theater major junior Katelyn Brooks, also from the studio of Joan Floriano, continued the emotionally charged precedent set by Hammes. Brooks sang, “I’m A Part of That” from the musical “The Last Five Years” by Jason Robert Brown and “Losing My Mind” from the musical “Follies” by Stephen Sondheim. Brooks’ blatant passion for her art reduced many audience members to tears, and the material echoed around the hall, allowing her phenomenal voice to resonate with ease.
The final performer was senior violinist Joseph Tadros, a student of Bergevin. Tadros played a Gabriel Fauré piece titled “Allegro Molto from Sonata No. 1 in A Major, Op. 13,” delighting all in attendance, including chair of the department of music and director of choral activities Gerard Floriano.
Members of the audience seemed to be enthralled by all of the talented performers as they applauded throughout the show. Following the recital, the lobby area was filled with parents, staff and fellow students wanting to personally congratulate the performers.
“I thought it was beautiful and inspiring to see how much work and effort was put into every performance,” musical theater major junior Miranda Calarco said. “I was really moved by the whole experience, and I can’t wait to attend next year.”
The winners then left to perform again at the Lyric Theatre in Rochester for the “Geneseo Day” at the Rochester Fringe Festival.
“[This was] some of the best performing our students have done, by a mile, and the level of talent of the singers and instrumentalists is really high and improving,” Gerard Floriano said after congratulating each performer. “I am very proud of them.”u