Southern Utah University’s music department presented a recital of woodwind ensembles in the Thorley Recital Hall of the Music Building on Tuesday, March 12 at 7:30 p.m. Smaller opportunities like this, differing from larger ensemble ventures like Wind Symphony and others, provide a more intimate setting for students to perform in.
The night began with the Hemoglobin Trio, made up of clarinet players Luke McLaughlin, Kennedi Dutson and Cameron Hutton. They played “Clarinet Trio for the Sake of Art” and “Collapse” before an ensemble of five flutists and an oboe player took the stage.
SUU’s flute choir, directed by Kira Swann, was the next to perform.
“I started [the SUU Flute Choir] with a small group of us … and we’ve been growing ever since,” said Swann. “This year we have been blessed with the opportunity to play recessional and processional music for the CPVA convocation.”
Swann extended an invite to any flute players who are interested in joining the choir for the convocation or becoming an official member in the fall.
Following the flute choir’s pieces, Swann joined two other flutists, Samatha Shaw and Dallin Nelson, to play the recital’s final piece, “Birds” by Herman Beeftink.
“In a wind band, you have almost 70 players, but in a woodwind ensemble, you have three to six,” said McLaughlin. “It’s a lot of pressure, but once you do make that music, it is extremely rewarding.”
“SUU’s program is really small, and you get to grow really attached to the people you work with, you get to know your professors really well,” he added. “It’s small, but it’s mighty.”
For those that missed out on Tuesday’s performance, a broadcast of the recital can be found here, and more information on upcoming events is posted on the SUU music department website.
Author: Heather Turner
Photographer: Lukas Hassell
Editor: Tessa Cheshire
arts@suunews.net
