The Online Reflector

The flute, string and brass ensembles played their end of semester concert to a full audience on Dec. 6, in Ruth Lilly Performance Hall in the Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center.

The University of Indianapolis Flute Choir started the night off by playing “Sonata Pian’e Forte” by Giovanni Gabrieli. From the balcony of the performance hall, audience members could be seen smiling as they listened to the music.

The flute choir this year is composed of 10 students and only requires that students know how to play flute and be willing to practice.

“No audition is actually required and any major is welcome. You just need to know how to play the flute,” junior music performance major Susan Lutterbach said. “To be in flute choir, you just have to sign up. You register for it just like any other class.”

According to Lutterbach, the flute choir started rehearsing in September, with one rehearsal each week until the performance. The flute choir played four songs for the night, all of which were directed by Faculty Adjunct Anne Reynolds, who seemed to dance to the music as she conducted.

Following the flute choir, each of the five different string ensembles, coached by Associate Adjunct Faculty Dennis McCafferty, took turns playing five songs each by different composers.

Associate Professor of Music Ariana Kim filled in playing violin for Morgan Knapp on “Duetto for two violins” and also filled in for another performer during the song “String Quartet No. 4 in C Major, K. 157” later in the show.

The concert offered a wide variety of different sounds and composers that kept the audience in their seats throughout the night.

“The string quartets were my favorite, but all of them [the ensembles] were awesome. I have played cello, and the concert really made me miss playing classical music,” sophomore Sabrina Smiley said. “It was great to have the opportunity to go and listen to some wonderful musicians like those in the concert.”

The brass quintet was coached for the performance by Faculty Adjunct Larry Powell and played four songs of the night, playing “Scherzo” and “Cor Royale” in between a string ensemble song and two flute choir songs. The quintet then played a popular Duke Ellington song called “Satin Doll,” that left audience members tapping to the beat.

The night ended by getting the audience in the Christmas spirit with the brass quintet, composed of Jocelyn Clanton, Jon Majors, Max White, Robert Slemenda and Paul Black playing the familiar song “Carol of the Bells,” a traditional Ukranian Carol that put smiles on the faces of audience members.

Every semester, students take part in each of these small ensembles and perform a concert showcasing the work they have done while working with their coaches for an audience.

While all of the pieces had a different sound, melody and style, performers enjoyed each piece, but playing for an audience was the gratifying part of the entire performance.

“There honestly wasn’t any piece that really trumped the others for me,” Lutterbach said. “I really like playing the alto flute so I suppose that was my favorite part [of the concert], and it’s always great to have a crowd listen to us play, and to hear their applause is very gratifying.”