Story by Philip Harrington
Video by Pascal Garoute
The campus was alive with the sound of music at 7:30 p. m. on Feb. 19 when the Cameron University Music Department presented the New Music Festival in the McCutcheon Recital Hall.
The CU New Music Festival is an annual event that is made available through a grant from the Lectures and Concert Series.
According to Professor Dr. Gregory Hoepfner, the head of the New Music Festival committee and the host of the event this year, the New Music Festival has been taking place for over 20 years.
Dr. Hoepfner said he considers many things when picking the performers for the festival.
“I think about what would benefit the community and the students,” Dr. Hoepfner said. “I try to pick people who can interact with the students and make the music as accessible as possible.”
Past performers have included some relatively famous composers.
“I have been amazed at some of the composers who played at this festival in the past,” Dr. Hoepfner said. “Composers like Norman Della Joio, who is one of the most famous South American composers, have played here.”
This Trio Tulsa, consisting of Maureen O’Boyle on violin, Diane Bucchianeri on cello and Dr. Roger Price on piano, was this year’s featured performance.
According to O’Boyle, the trio formed 28 years ago at the University of Tulsa.
“The trio started in 1985, though the members have changed over the years,” O’Boyle said.
[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/60408600[/vimeo]The Trio Tulsa plans its performances from a repertoire that includes modern classical compositions.
“We have another concert in two weeks where we will perform more standard classical music,” Bucchianeri said.
Dr. Price, the pianist in the group, said he likes a wide variety of musical styles.
“What I like is variety — all different combinations,” Dr. Price said. “I guess you could say we just like music.”
In addition to the music, who he plays with is equally important to Dr. Price.
“When you get to work with friends in chamber music like this it is the most fun you can have as a musician,” Dr. Price said.
“It is always great fun when you finish performing and see that everyone enjoyed it,” Bucchianeri said.
Twenty-three-year-old senior Music major Melissa Delgado said she enjoyed the concert and pointed out which pieces she liked the most.
“I loved the fourth movement of the Craftsbury Trio piece,” Delgado said. “It was beautiful and calm but with a rich sound.”
After their performance, Bucchianeri and O’Boyle had to make the three hour trip back to Tulsa.
“We have classes to teach in the morning,” O’Boyle said.
But for some Cameron students, the experience would not end with the concert. According to Dr. Hoepfner, Dr. Price would remain at Cameron until the following day.
“Dr. Price will be teaching a Masters class to some of our piano students in the morning,” Dr. Hoepfner said.
Dr. Hoepfner is already writing grant proposals for next year’s festival.
“I am putting in a grant to get a trio from St. Louis for next year,” Dr. Hoepfner said.
In the future, Dr. Hoepfner said he would like to see the festival grow to include more than one featured musician.