Music Festival rings in Winter

Music poured out of McInnis Auditorium on Nov. 21 and 22, as the Winter Music Festival featured a variety of musical talent.

Friday night, the music program kicked off with the winds band and their bold brass pieces. Conducted by Bryan Edgett, the band performed their four pieces with gusto. The strings ensemble then charmed the crowd with four elegant pieces. Conducted by Ron Lipscomb, the strings, featuring six violinists, one violist and one cellist, played four pieces.

They finished with a Christmas song featuring a viola solo by Kristy Andreas. After an intermission, the jazz ensemble took the stage. Featuring Dwight Fowler on the flugelhorn, Erin Taylor on the clarinet and Rob Hytha on the tenor saxophone, the jazz ensemble also played four pieces.

Finally, the university choir entered the auditorium, wearing red ankle-length dresses and black suits, and surrounded the audience by standing in both aisles and in front of the stage After their first piece, they proceeded onto the stage for the remainder of the program. Solos by Jason Collier, Caitlin McDonald and Emily Cusimano brought the night to a close.

Saturday night began with four pieces from the Eastern Orchestra, most notably “In the Hall of the Mountain King” by Grieg, and three dances from “The Nutcracker” by Tchaikovsky. After the orchestra and Director David Bryant left the stage, the women’s chorale took over, directed by Rebecca Whitlow, featuring solos by Hannah Thyberg, Sarah Bryski, Emily Murray and Francesca Stewart.

The chamber ensemble, directed by David Maness, then entranced the crowd with a piece from Robert Schumann. After the intermission, four Christmas pieces from Turning Point, directed by David Bryant, entertained the crowd. After the flute ensemble, directed by Kim Trolier, played a piece from Mozart, the Angels of Harmony concluded the festival. Featuring solos by Catie Parker and Nathaniel Jones, the Angels were the perfect final act.