Our Ensemble concert on Friday had a terrific turnout and a surprisingly varied program. Here’s a rundown:

We began with Sara Baunoch and flutist Iris Sim, in an evocative rendering of Miyagi’s Haru No Umi. (Full program at the end of the post).

Following this piece was the world-premiere performance of a work for guitar and 5-string banjo, written by recent Oberlin alum, Max Allard. Written for guitar student Solis Dornan (who had taught Max guitar lessons the year prior) and himself to play, the piece, Wreck of the Old Tacoma, was a musical response to the accident which left Solis’ car (his Toyota Tacoma) totaled. It was a very well-written and highly engaging piece. The instruments balanced well and each had ample moments “in the sun” as it unfolded. The audience loved it.

Next up was a reading of Vivaldi’s beloved Lute Concert in D, performed on guitar by Sam Schollenberger, and accompanied by members of the Historical Performance division: violinists Boaz and Aaron Mechim, cellist Zack Price, and harpsichordist Lucas Peters. While the ensemble had scant time to rehearse this work in advance, it nonetheless sounded highly professional and intensely spirited. The audience erupted with hoots afterwards.

Zack Price, Lucas Peters, Sam Schollenberger, Boaz and Aaron Mechim play Vivaldi

Following the Vivaldi, Caden Basile took the stage, along with soprano Jai McAllister. They presented four songs from era of Tin Pan Alley (in my arrangements), for a startling change of style. Jai captured the mood and spirit of these old American songs perfectly, rendering the sentimental moments without irony and the bluesy moments with just the right saucy, winking joy. The audience loved them.

Next up was Aleksandr Lapshin. He was joined by flutist Murphy Shi in a performance of Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s Sonatina. They handled it with virtuosic aplomb, demonstrating a confidence that was very impressive indeed.

Aleksandr Lapshin plays Castelnuovo-Tedesco with Murphy Shi

We concluded with a familiar work for guitar quartets, Brouwer’s popular Cuban Landscapes with Rumba. Followers of this blog will know that we don’t always feature music for multiple guitars on our Guitar Ensemble concerts, so it is fun when we do. The students always enjoy playing together like this. (For more on why I favor mixed chamber music, see this post “Why Mixed Chamber Music"?” ). Quartet members Grigor Ylli, Caden Basile, Sara Baunoch and Solis Dornan, really captured the landscape.