Music majors turn to virtual platforms for their senior recitals
Photo courtesy of Austin Lee.
In the midst of Lee moving to online classes for the semester, music majors are finding alternate ways to perform their highly anticipated senior recitals.
According to Dr. William Green, dean of the School of Music and professor of music, almost all music majors have to complete a senior recital. Up until this point, these recitals have been performances open to friends, family and the public. With the sudden transfer to online classes, however, some senior music majors were left questioning how they would be able to perform their pieces.
“Some of the students doing recitals this semester had already completed the hearing before spring break,” said Green. “If they had not, then we set up a hearing in Squires Recital Hall with only the student, the accompanist and the hearing committee of [three faculty members].”
These hearings were videotaped for anyone who could not attend. If passed by the faculty committee, the student is then cleared to proceed with their recital.
Despite this change, according to Green, the situation still presented some obstacles. Since hosting recitals open to the public was out of the question, the faculty decided to allow students to perform in an empty recital hall.
“The recitals are being videotaped by [Director of Facilities Management] Josh York’s staff and livestreamed for family and friends to view,” said Green. “Although it is not ideal to perform in an empty hall, friends and family are able to be a part via technology.”
Senior music major Adrian Cramer was one of the students allowed to perform her recital through this method.
“We’ve been preparing officially for about a year, but at least for me personally, it was always in the back of my mind, even back in my first year,” said Cramer. “It varies from person to person, but oftentimes the repertoire performed at a recital is a compilation of pieces that are being studied for years.”
Students had to decide whether to postpone their recital until summer or keep their original date and perform it via livestream.
“Anybody who had a recital scheduled anytime after spring break had to decide whether to push it back a semester — if that was an option — or continue with it, knowing that there won’t be an audience,” said Cramer. “The cool thing is that recitals are now being livestreamed, which had not been the case before this, which means that many of my friends and family back home were able to watch, as is the case for many living far from home.”
Senior music major Austin Lee also chose to keep his original performance date, presenting him with the unique opportunity to connect with those who originally could not attend.
“Since it was livestreamed, there was an opportunity for more people to experience my recital with me,” said Lee. “I had many friends and family from back home that tuned in that otherwise wouldn’t have made it to Cleveland to watch live,” said Lee. “Almost 200 people streamed my recital that may or may not have been able to come all the way to Cleveland.”
Though students were able to perform their recitals safely, and families and friends were able to tune in virtually, Cramer emphasized the experience was still challenging.
“As I stood out there on the stage, I tried to perform just as I would with an audience. I enjoyed it the best I could, but if I’m being completely honest, I know it wasn’t near the excitement and joy I would’ve felt had it been a traditional recital,” said Cramer.
After years of preparing to sing in front of an audience of loved ones, the challenge of performing to an empty auditorium comes with the sudden change.
“Livestreaming the recital was a little awkward,” said Lee. “Having an empty auditorium was difficult to sing to, but knowing people were watching the livestream helped push me through each set.”
While performing in front of an empty hall is not preferable to a public performance, students are finding ways to make the most of this technological opportunity.
“Just a week before [the recital], I had a friend of mine challenge me to remember why I do what I do,” said Cramer. “If it’s for people, the praise and the glory for myself, then I might as well quit now. God blessed me with this gift, and it’s for Him that I sing.”
Senior music major Sarah Carson was the first to perform her senior recital via livestream. Preparation for her recital began on day one of freshman year, and by senior year, she considered herself ready to perform.
“I battled with my emotions very strongly before my recital,” said Carson. “I received information that the academic plan was to perform recitals individually and without an audience about a week before my recital. I was dealing with a lot of grief. I had lost the opportunity to perform live for my family — many of which have never heard me sing classically, the debut of my piece with [my recital partner] Caitrin and the celebration that I had prepared myself for two years.”
With a short time to adjust and emotions running high, Carson admitted she could barely bring herself to practice for her recital.
“With the final two days I had before my recital, [God] began to stir within me a holy sweetness that is only attained through His peace in the midst of chaos,” said Carson. “I began to see this recital as a moment of intimacy. Over the course of college, God has taught me that my value is intrinsic; it is not dependent upon the sound that leaves my lips. This recital was the capstone of that lesson.”
Although Carson accepted the change, she believes music, like other arts, has its most significant impact when it is shared with others.
“In the end, I performed my recital to an empty recital hall. I learned to surrender my plans to a God who is worthy of praise when my world shakes,” said Carson. “In the end, my recital reflected a heavenly intimacy with only two souls to hear my performance live — my teacher and my Teacher. The Lord was there, and his presence is ultimately all that I needed.”
Senior recitals, including past performances, are accessible through Lee’s livestream page.
