Women composers featured at recital

The works of female composers were presented at a recital by Concordia’s music department on Thursday, Feb. 17,  in the recital hall of the Music Center. This was the third annual themed recital by the music department; it has previously done recitals featuring the music of Bach and the music of Schumann.  

Dr. Elizabeth Grimpo, assistant professor of music, felt audience members would be exposed to music many have not heard before during this concert. “The output of female composers is as important and wonderful as music that is more frequently programmed and heard, but their music is often overlooked.”

Twelve Concordia students performed music by Amy Beach, Carol Muehling, Binnette Lipper and Maria Newman, among others. The vocal selections by Beach, an American composer of the early 20th century, are based on three poems of Robert Browning and are similar in style to that of Brahms. A pair of songs for tenor and mezzo soprano by Lipper also is quite distinctive, according to Grimpo. “The text of these songs can best be described as a spoof on Adam and Eve’s relationship if they lived in modern times.”

Student performers 

Malissa Carey, Freshman, Princeton, Kan., trombone
Julia Gremmer, Junior, New Braunfels, Texas, violin
Megan Heidemann, Senior, Seward, Neb., soprano
JP Jensen, Junior, Denver, Colo., tenor
Katie Keily, Junior, Norman, Ind., mezzo soprano
Sarah Mahnken, Junior, Schleswig, Iowa, euphonium
Jennette Morrison, Senior, Urbandale, Iowa, organ
Michael Palomaki, Senior, David City, Neb., trombone
Holly Petersen, Junior, Garland, Neb., soprano
Chase Reihmann, Senior, Marengo, Iowa, piano
Rebecca Walker, Junior, Gardnerville, Nev., piano
Blake Woodburn, Junior, York, Neb., piano