RaeLynn Forsyth, Bradley Class, Sasha Shapiro and Shanna McDonough perform a
Mozart Flute Quartet in recital at the Olin Fine Arts Center
The opportunity to study and perform music from the chamber music repertory--including duos, trios, quartets, quintets for instrumentalists, and art song cycles for singers—is available to qualified W&J students from all majors. Rehearsing twice weekly, students learn the principles and techniques of ensemble playing, preparing a variety of musical styles. Among the works presented over recent terms are Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 3, Mozart’s Flute Quartet, KV 285, Beethoven’s Piano Trio, Op. 1 No. 3, his song cycle, “An die ferne Geliebte”, Op. 98, along with more contemporary pieces like Michael McLean’s Tango for String Quartet, and a new piece, “Berusticka”, composed expressly for the W&J Chamber Ensemble by Kyle Simpson of the music faculty. Student chamber groups have participated at campus events such as Music in Old Main, two chamber music recitals, and for the Howard Hughes Medical Institute External Advisory Board meeting. They have performed off campus at Strabane Trails Retirement Center and at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Mt. Lebanon.
All students interested in enrolling in Chamber Music Ensemble (MUA 221) should contact Dr. Susan Woodard regarding entrance requirements. Since basic solo proficiency and sight reading skills are necessary for playing chamber music, applied study (private lessons) taken concurrently with MUA 221 is strongly recommended.
