The UMKC Conservatory symphonies and choirs gathered for a concert on Monday, Oct. 28 at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts to welcome and showcase the talent of six new Conservatory professors.
“Clearly, they have enthusiasm for music,” said Pam Harlan, mother of Conservatory Symphony Orchestra violinist Thoman Harlan. “Which I think is wonderful because it carries over with their students.”
The collaborative performance was greeted by a large crowd of supporters in the audience. Some attendees were families of students on stage, excited to witness what the new professors could introduce to their children’s musical education.
“Being a part of these concerts together, you just learn so much as a musician,” said Harlan.
The night began with a welcoming performance of “March of the Students’ Legions” by Bedřich Smetana (1824-1884) performed by the Conservatory Wind Orchestra.
The first soloist of the night and French horn player was Alberto Suarez, the new assistant professor of horn. He skillfully executed the solos of the three movements of Catherine Likhuta’s (1981) “Sure-Fire.”
Next to perform was Dr. Matthew Vangjel, assistant professor of trumpet, with a rapid trumpet performance of Aleksandra Pakhmutova’s (1929) “Trumpet Concerto.”
After a short intermission, the audience enjoyed George Gershwin’s (1898-1937) “Second Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra.” This performance featured Sean Chen, the new Jack Strandberg/Missouri Endowed Professor of Piano.
Endowed professorships like Chen’s are endowed by donors to attract artistic excellence and leadership, said Andrew Granade Associate, the dean of academic and faculty affairs and professor of musicology at the Conservatory.
After Chen, tenor vocalist and Assistant Professor of Voice Seokho Park performed “A Letter from Sullivan Ballou” by John Lander (1975) alongside featured pianist Mary Gossell. This was Park’s first of three performances of the night.
Assistant Professor of Flute Dr. Terri Sanchez then performed UMKC professor Chen Yi’s (1953) composition of “Golden Flute” in a sparkling golden skirt to match the titled work.
“I enjoy the inspiration and the energy that comes from working with other artists at the Conservatory including students,” said Sanchez about collaborative performances in the Conservatory.
The Conservatory choir closed out the evening with three performances beginning with “I am Loved” by Christopher Harris (1985). The Conservatory Symphony Orchestra then rejoined the performance to play alongside the UMKC Combined Choirs for the final two pieces of the night.
Park took to the stage once more for “Nessun Dorma” by Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924) and “Make Our Garden Grow” by Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990).
The sixth featured professor of the concert was the lively and enthusiastic conductor Christopher Kelts. He conducted the Conservatory Symphony Orchestra in four of their pieces for the night. Kelts has joined the Conservatory as assistant professor of music and director of orchestra.
“Performing these pieces that everyone grew up hearing but [and now] actually getting to play and be a part of it has to be a wonderful feeling,” said Harlan.
