Courtesy Photo / OBU Music
Nine OBU students will take the stage Sunday, Feb. 16, for the 46th annual Concerto-Aria concert.
Morgan Jackson
Arts Editor
Nine students from the Di- vision of Music will be show- casing their talents this week- end on a grand scale.
This year the 46th annual Concerto-Aria concert will be presented in Potter Auditorium Sunday, Feb. 16, 7:30 p.m.
According to a Feb. 4 OBU press release, “The first Concerto-Aria concert was organized in 1974 as a way for outstanding musical performers to be able to appear with a live orchestra and perform repertoire from the great catalogues of piano concertos and opera arias. Some years later, instrumental concertos and other works were included in the performances, including original compositions by student composers.”
Student vocalists and instrumentalists chosen to perform were selected by a panel made up of members of the music department faculty. The students performing this year are Katie Logan, Alex Benito, Anne Aguayo, Laura Stewart, Makalah Jessup, Christian Celis, Kalyne Henrichsen, Marlee Sedgwick and Rachel Darvin.
For many performers, this event will be a highlight of their collegiate career, a moment that makes a mark on Bison Hill.
“Attending Concerto-Aria was one of the formative experiences that helped further my decision to become a mu- sic major later on in college,” senior musical arts major Kalyne Henrichsen said.
“This performance is the elite performance of the year for the music department. It is an honor to be in and a fantastic experience for both listener and performer as it combines a collaborative experience between ensemble (the orchestra) and solo musicians (both voice and instrument). Plus, there are fancy dresses and suits which is al- ways fun.”
Many performers have been hoping to take the stage at Concerto-Aria since their freshman year.
“One of the first music events I remember was Concerto Aria my freshman year,” senior music education major Anne Aguayo said.
“I was amazed at how talented the performers that year were and thought that participating in Concerto Aria would be a dream I never expected to come true. Last year I had the honor of singing in it for the first time.”
Junior piano performance major Rachel Darvin shares the same sentiment.
“I first attended Concerto-Aria in 2017 as a prospective Piano major,” Darvin said.
“I was in awe that college students could perform at that level with an orchestra, and also excited that I might have the same opportunity one day.
I have had the privilege of at- tending both Concerto-Aria performances since, and it is always a delight to hear my colleagues and friends at their best.”
The performers are accompanied by an orchestra, which elevates the level of performance.
“I have attended Concerto Aria annually since 2017, but this will be my first time per- forming in it,” senior vocal performance major Marlee Sedgwick said.
“From pianists to clarinetists to vocalists, the soloists at Concerto-Aria are of an elite caliber and hearing them perform accompanied by an orchestra makes their work come to life in an atmosphere unlike any other. This con- cert has inspired me to hone my singing craft since I was a freshman and being accepted to perform this year is truly a dream come true.”
Students relish the opportunity to perform with an orchestra.
“As I watched the performers, I knew that it would be a dream to sing on that stage with a full orchestra but never believed it would happen,” junior music education major Katie Logan said.
“Last year, I was given the opportunity to perform for the first time and was left in awe by the music and experience of singing with a full orchestra.”
A lot of work takes place in preparation for this major event.
Students work hard to audition and be accepted to per- form in this concert.
This concert provides students with a large audience to share their gifts with.
“More than anything else, I look forward to connecting with the audience at this event,” Sedgwick said.
“I aim to demonstrate the love of Christ to them in the way I perform, and I hope that we all gain a clearer picture of God’s love for us through the music we experience. I am honored to be performing alongside my beloved friends.”
This performance hopes to display the tell-tale sign of the hard work and dedication to the craft of music.
“I am most looking forward to being able to glorify the Lord with my voice and tell a story that hopefully touches one person in the audience. Being able to perform with other performers who are my dear friends and glorify the Lord together is so insanely special,” Henrichsen said.
“I am looking forward to celebrating the growth of musicianship and hard work over the last few semesters. I have family coming all the way from Minnesota, so I am looking forward to being able to share a bit of my passion and my life here with them.”
The Concerto-Aria Concert will take place Sunday, Feb. 16, 7:30 p.m. in Potter Auditorium.
The event is free and open to the public.
The Bison 