Conservatory students got to showcase their abilities at the UMKC Family Weekend Concert.
It was the final of three performances that took place between Sept. 19 and Sept. 21 at 7:30 p.m. in White Recital Hall. The other events included the UMKC Jazz Faculty Concert and the Conservatory Wind Symphony Concert.
The UMKC Family Weekend Concert featured the Conservatory Choir, the Conservatory Singers and the Conservatory Symphony Orchestra. The performance also featured a combined performance of the Conservatory Choir and the Conservatory Singers.
The Conservatory Choir started their concert with the first two movements, “Kyrie” and “Gloria,” of José Maurício Nunes Garcia’s “Missa pastoril para a noite de Natal” (1811). They closed with David Dickau’s “If Music be the Food of Love” (1997).
The Conservatory Singers performed three pieces including Elaine Hagenberg’s “Alleluia” (2020), Stacey V. Gibbs’ “Way Over in Beulah Lan’” (2007) and a choral composition by Johannes Brahms conducted by student Robert Stubbs.
Robert Stubbs is a first year UMKC graduate student with a major in choral conducting. The piece he conducted was Brahms’ “Drei Quartette, Op. 31, No. 3: Der Gang zum Liebchen”(1863).
“I just thought ‘I get to conduct Brahms’ that is so exciting,” said Stubbs. “It’s gorgeous and I feel so fortunate.”
Stubbs was the only student conductor of the evening and also made an appearance singing in both of the Conservatory choral ensembles.
The Conservatory Choir and Singers finished the choral concert with a group ensemble performance of Christopher Harris’ “I am Loved” (2016).
Fellow Conservatory Singer Leah Wyman, a now 39-year-old UMKC graduate student with a major in choral conducting, spent the eve of her birthday performing in the concert.
“It was my first time being conducted by Bobby [Stubbs] and it was an absolute joy,” said Wyman. “He [Stubbs] just radiates, he’s just ebullient with joy while he’s conducting and also he’s tremendously elegant.”
Stubbs regularly conducts the Northland Community Choir in Parkville. He is also a pianist and organist who is familiar with Brahms compositions.
“I am a huge fan of Johannes Brahms and for that reason I was especially excited to hear the orchestra Brahms’ second symphony,” said Stubbs.
A second work by Brahms was performed during the evening. It was his “Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 73” (1877) performed by the Conservatory Symphony Orchestra. The symphony is over 30 minutes long with four movements.
“I thought the Brahms was just incendiary,” said Wyman. “Getting to hear these talented musicians is always a pleasure and they really set the year I think off with a wonderful momentum.”
The Conservatory Symphony Orchestra also performed Jocelyn Hagen’s “Solar” (2011).
To keep up with their future performances check out the Conservatory events calendar on the UMKC website.
