Eastern Faculty Hold Music Recitals

Seven Reed Quintet.

Pianists Okon Hwang and David Ballena perform during "Hopping Through History."

Faculty musicians put on three performances in recent weeks as part of the Music Program’s Faculty Recital Series. On October 26, tuba and euphonium specialist Philip Bloomer, the newest member of Eastern’s Music faculty, joined forces with pianist David Ballena to play contemporary works as well as a transcription of Brahms’ E-minor Cello Sonata in the Concert Hall of the Fine Arts Instructional Center. Bloomer holds a doctorate from the University of Michigan and has played music from Anaheim, CA (Disneyland All American College Band) to Bar Harbor, Maine (Bar Harbor Brass Week).

On Oct. 30, the newly formed Seven Reed Quintet presented a concert covering a variety of genres and musical eras. Based in eastern Connecticut, the quintet includes Briana Tarby (Oboe & English Horn), Kelly Hurrell (Soprano Clarinets), Greg Case (Saxophones & Contrabass Clarinet), Brooke Allen (Bassoon) and Eastern music lecturer Chris Howard (Soprano & Bass Clarinets). Quintet members come from across the nation and joined together through their work in the U.S. Coast Guard Band in New London. While all five members are accomplished soloists, they embrace ensemble performance.

Collaborating with other music, theatre and art faculty members, pianists David Ballena and Okon Hwang presented two-piano pieces from Baroque, Classical, Romantic and the contemporary periods on Nov. 8 and 9 in the Concert Hall of the Fine Arts Instructional Center. “Hopping Through History: Two Piano Multi-Media Concert” also featured Alycia Bright Holland (movement), Tim Cochran (public musicology), Travis Houldcroft (Audio/Video Interaction Programming), Lora Lee (animation), Kristen Morgan (media design), Emily Riggs (soprano), Anya Sokolovskaya (costume) and DeRon Williams (directing).

Written by Ed Osborn

Categories: Music, Faculty Research