Oct. 7 marked Eastern’s annual Fine Arts Festival, and it was an evening of celebration for students and alumni alike. Dance major Hannah Brumbach wasted no time kicking the evening off with her own choreographed dance. Claps, stomps, audible breaths and flawless tumbles and twirls were the music that began her dance, and the raw nature of the a capella beginning carried throughout, even as the notes of Dave Brubeck’s “Unsquared Dance” came to dance along with her.
As high as Brumbach set the bar for the evening, Pei-Ju Yu did not in any way fall short. Her voice stunningly filled every corner of the auditorium, and every listening ear in the audience was hooked by her first note that struck right to the soul. She performed “Nachtgebet” and “Hat dich die Liebe beruht” by Joseph Marx.
Some alumni graced the stage once again, as well, in the performance of “Silent Noon,” as well as in two entertaining selections from alumnus Kevin Monaghan’s “Broken.”
Turning Point never disappoints, and this performance was no different. They sang a beautiful arrangement of “Beau Soir” (French for “beautiful evening”), and what an apropos title to showcase this evening. “I’m Always Chasing Rainbows” was absolutely enchanting, with a melody originally adapted from Chopin’s “Fantaisie-Impromptu” and harmonies thick and enriched.
Hyeoun Eunice Jeon took the audience on an exploration of Samuel Hsu’s “Hommage a Chopin,” a light fantasia on the well-known hymn, “This is My Father’s World.” The Eastern University Choir finished out the night, first with “You Can Walk Upon the Water” written and accompanied by Eastern University’s Executive Director, Ron Matthews, with Andy Lenko on drum set. The evening of celebrating music at Eastern was concluded by alumni joining the University Choir on stage to proclaim the “Hallelujah Chorus” from Handel’s “Messiah.” The audience stood to show honor, glory and respect to He whom the song was honoring, and voices carried this well-known, but never overdone, song from years past up through what the future of music may be.
This night of rekindled friendships and delightful music marked yet another year of success for the music department’s Fine Arts Festival.
Future fine arts events this semester include the Winter Music Festival on Dec. 2 and 3, the Winter Dance Concert from Dec. 8 to 11 and performances of “Waiting for Lefty” from Nov. 17 to 20.