The Wabash College Department of Music held its 18th annual "Spotlight Concert" on Tuesday. The Spotlight Concert illuminates student’s work in the Music Department in an amazing display of their musical gift through a variety of student performances in a variety of genre ranging from classical to electronic. This year was no exception, with an amazing set of pieces that really made students shine.
The concert started off with Dr. Akombo signing two songs by Harry T. Burleigh: "Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel" and "Go down Moses". He was followed by Erick Martin on the flute, Matt Routh on the clarinet and Thomas Pizarek on the bassoon, with "Little Suite" by Michael M. Horvit. Sean Foster performed "In a Landscape" by Johnny Cage which was immediately followed by Dr. Kubiak’s Edvard Grieg songs "Zur Rosenzeit" and "Ein Traum". Adam Dybel then amazed with a bracing and complex Caprice No. 2 by Pierre Rode. The first half of the concert then ended with a lively yet unusual arrangement performed by, Jason Allen, Forrest Craig, Patrick Griffith and David Herr, of "Sabre Dance" by Aram Khachaturian.
After the intermission Chris Dony, the exchange student from Belgian, impressed the audience with an unconventional mix of electronic music and piano playing which has been an ongoing project of his with Professor Huelen for the past semester. Austin Crowder then treated the public with his polished sounding performance of two songs from "Songs of Travel" by Ralph Vaughan Williams. Juan Carlos Venis, Diane Norton, and Amanda Ingram proceeded with Trio Sonata, F Major, BWV 529 by Johann Sebastian Bach followed by Andrew McKone who played Paganini’s Caprice No. 14. The audience was then fired up by Kyle Prifogle’s fiery and charged performance of Tarantella by Franz Liszt. As the evening came to an end the Wabash College Jazz Combo concluded with Chubb Subb and a surprise jazzy version of Old Wabash.
Students, parents, faculty and staff alike, which made up the audience, left with enthusiasm and amazement. Barry Ooi said "It was a soul enriching experience, who knew classical music could be so exciting, or that electronic music could be so tranquil… but cool…you know." The night came to an end with a wave of congratulations to the performers outside Salter. They deserved it.