People of all ages braved the cold and windy weather on Friday Feb. 8 for a double bass faculty recital by Geneseo’s very own adjunct professor of music Wan-Ling Chuang. The seats were filled with locals and students who were excited for a night of unique musical performances highlighting the double bass.
The performance began with Chuang playing intricate pieces on the double bass, accompanied by adjunct professor of music Kurt Galvan on piano. Later, adjunct professor of music soprano Amy Cochrane joined the two, singing in a show-stopping operatic voice.
Alongside the musical talents of Chuang and Galvan, Cochrane added more depth to the performance, adding dramatic flair to every word she sang. Audience members were on the edge of their seats as they waited for the next note to blow them away.
After Cochrane left the stage, there was a short intermission. Audience members couldn’t stop ranting and raving about how well all the musical elements blended together.
One attendee, history and education major freshman Alissa Moeller, happens to be a musician herself. She plays violin in the Geneseo Symphony Orchestra, sparking her interest to attend this event. Moeller commented on the fact that these events open students to new things they most likely wouldn’t have discovered on their own.
“This type of concert gives students the opportunity to watch our professors share their talents,” Moeller said. “I had never heard of some of the composers [Chuang] selected before.”
Chuang started learning piano at the age of five in order to play at churches in Taiwan where she grew up. Five years after that, Chuang decided she wanted to join her school’s orchestra and picked up the bass. She has been playing bass for 30 years now and has consistently participated in Geneseo recitals since 2017.
“Every year I try to play a different program so I can keep exploring the repertoire for double bass,” Chuang said. “I am really happy that I can share my music with the Geneseo community again this year.”
Chuang was given the opportunity to perform at a double bass recital in Italy during the summer of 2018 with travel funds provided by Geneseo.
Chuang finds joy in performing for others and it was evident that audience members found joy in her performance.
Adjunct professor of music Ken Luk joined Chuang during the musical endeavors for the rest of the night by playing an acoustic guitar. The songs they played together were from Brazil and involved great skill when it came to fingerpicking techniques. The combination of guitar and double bass set a soothing mood to close out the recital.
Geneseo puts on many musical events each semester ranging from acoustic sets, classical music and beyond. There is always something for everyone, and students may even get to see their own professors on stage.