Erinn Finley
Staff Writer
[email protected]
While most Murray State seniors are hitting the books in preparation for finals week, music majors are preparing to perform for their degrees.
Senior recitals began at the end of March and are scheduled to continue through April.
Senior Audri Hughes, a musical education major with a vocal emphasis, is set to perform her recital on April 23 at 2:30 p.m.
Hughes is a vocalist with a mezzo-soprano voice type and says she plans to incorporate a wide variety of music styles in her recital.
“For my recital, I wanted to select pieces from various styles and genres to show the range of music styles I have learned over the past four years,” Hughes said. “I will be performing oratorio, opera, jazz, musical theater, spiritual pieces and more.”
Chair of the Music Department Lucia Unrau said the senior recital is the capstone experience for most music majors.
“They have worked toward this for many years, most recently the past four years while at Murray State,” Unrau said in an email. “Students develop a valuable relationship with their applied teacher (voice teacher, instrumental teacher, etc.). This relationship is life long because their teacher is also their mentor, eventually their professional peer, and friend. It is one of the richest relationships an artist can have.”
Senior recitals are required for most music degrees; However, the path to the moment of the senior recital is quite structured, Unrau says, which prepares students for success.
Unrau said students have musical final exams called final juries plus private study every semester, and seniors perform for recital assemblies.
Hughes said while she enjoys many of her music courses she has a special love for her choral ensembles and voice lessons as they allow her to connect with her whole self, communicate and express the composer’s intent and allow the listeners to feel what she is feeling to some extent.
“I would definitely recommend a music degree to potential students,” Hughes said. “No matter your background or skill level coming in, you are sure to find growth within your abilities and yourself through music at MSU. To the future students of MSU, stay true to yourself and follow your passion. There’s room for everyone.”
Vocal performance major Staley Clark says she has had a successful academic career thanks to the music department. The music faculty and staff inspire their students and care immensely about student success, she said.
“There are many professors I absolutely adore—Dr. Maribeth Crawford, Dr. Tana Field, Dr. Marquese Carter, Dr. Bradley Almquist and many more,” Clark said. “I have had the majority of my classes with these select instructors throughout my four years at Murray State. In fact, they have taught many of my favorite courses—vocal pedagogy, private lessons, diction for singers, repertoire pedagogy, choir, music history, and choral methods.”
Clark said she had creative freedom in her recital selections, but Crawford, as her private voice teacher, guided her in her music selection for her recital and made suggestions according to what was appropriate for a senior recital, what sounded good with her voice and what would be beneficial.
“After intense score study and hours of rehearsing, I personally pieced together a wonderful recital that allowed me to present my artistry to its fullest potential,” Clark said. “I chose pieces that would challenge me intellectually, musically and artistically.”
Clark said she suggests students interested in music apply for Murray State’s music program. She said the professors care about the personal and academic success of their students.
“These professors are extremely qualified to educate young and aspiring musicians,” Clark said. “Also, they take it upon themselves to ensure that their students have every opportunity to demonstrate their artistry and love for music. Looking back, I am so thankful that I chose this school to cultivate my craft.”
The senior recital is a wonderful opportunity for musicians to celebrate their accomplishments with family and friends, Unrau said.
“Oftentimes, this work has begun many years before they came to college and their private teachers from their pre-college years will attend,” Unrau said. “It involves lots of hard work—memorization, singing in different languages, playing an instrument utilizing extended techniques, playing a style of repertoire that helps build a diverse program of literature and more.”
The senior recitals are free and open to the public. Though, Unrau said visitors to campus need to obtain visitor parking passes in order to freely park for the recitals, which can typically last 25 to 50 minutes depending on the degree.
To learn more about the schedule of senior recitals visit Murray State’s Calendar of events at murraystate.edu. https://www.murraystate.edu/academics/CollegesDepartments/CollegeOfHumanitiesAndFineArts/Music/CalendarOfEvents.aspx