At Eastern University, music is seen and recognized everywhere. We are widely known for our musical capabilities and all the opportunities on campus to perform and share our love for music. There are opportunities like: musical choirs, Turning Point, marching band, jazz band and even courses for a myriad of instruments and voices. On April 11 and 12, Clemens Hall hosted our Spring Music Festival, where both instrumental and vocal artists had the chance to invite friends, family and staff to watch them perform in their element. Each night began at 7 p.m. and ended around 9 p.m.
The first night was predominantly instrumental performances. I have never been to an instrumental only performance, so this was exciting and all my expectations were exceeded. The place was packed, the lights dim and the sound of harmonizing instruments floated throughout the audience. I had goosebumps for every performance. The ambiance of the room was calm, but the way that the music would rise and fall led my mood to rise and fall with it. “Every time the piece was happy, I felt happy. Every time the piece was slower, I felt on the edge of my seat” an audience member, Caleb Orr mentioned and I completely agree. It is such a unique experience to be affected so deeply by someone else’s passion. Most of the audience members I was surrounded by were the parents of performers. There were dozens of cameras out and sounds of audience members hushing themselves and others as the opening note rang through the room. Many reported to me similar themes of feeling joy, pride and bliss in hearing music be performed in that manner. With the first night so successful, it was hard to imagine that the next day could be even better.
The second night was where the vocal artists performed. The room appeared to be even more packed than the previous night, which was astonishing. I enjoyed this night especially, because a few friends of mine were performing. I found myself constantly getting chills because you could hear how much effort they had put in. Every single piece fit the vocalist’s voice perfectly. There was a portion for choir, ensembles and solos. “The whole night made me feel so happy… the energy in the room was so vibrant and fun” audience member Emi Bowers said. This quote describes the evening perfectly. Everyone, even the crowd, was dressed nicely and seemed invested in every performance. People were loud and celebratory; however, when the music began you could hear a pin drop as everyone waited expectantly. No song failed to be deserving of this eagerness.
Overall, Eastern University’s Spring Music Festival did exactly what it set out to do: display just how talented Eastern is musically. These nights were an unforgettable experience, and I was very grateful to go.
