Hillsdale College Symphony Orchestra Performs Final Concert of the School Year
HILLSDALE, Mich. — The Hillsdale College Symphony Orchestra performed its final concert of the 2022-2023 school year on Friday, May 12, the evening before commencement. Parents, students, faculty and staff, and members of the community attended the concert in Christ Chapel.
Joining the orchestra were violist Bank Bodor (‘24) and soprano Brianna Lambrecht (‘23), two of the four winners of the 2023 annual Student Concerto/Aria Competition. Bodor performed Tibor Serly’s “Rhapsody.” He performed on a Giulio Gigli viola, which was donated to the college by David and Bonnie Hough as part of the Joy String Collection. Lambrecht performed Gian Carl Menotti’s “Steal Me, Sweet Thief” and Charles Gounod’s “Waltz Song: ‘Ah! Je Veus Vivre.’”
“The student soloists performed beautifully, it was a special opportunity for them to perform with full orchestra accompaniment,” said James Holleman, professor of music and director of orchestras. “All of our students have been dedicated throughout the year, and this final concert is a testament to that hard work.”
Seventeen graduating seniors were recognized during the concert and following an intermission, the orchestra performed Gustav Mahler’s “Symphony No. 1 in D Major,” also known as “Titan.” “Performing a Mahler Symphony was a monumental accomplishment for our orchestra, I’m very proud of the students’ work in rehearsals and their outstanding performance. Performing this symphony has been a long-time goal of our program,” said Holleman.
Hillsdale’s orchestra is a full-instrumentation college symphony orchestra that performs an advanced standard repertoire. Any student with sufficient musical skill may become an orchestra member via audition or recommendation of the college’s music studio professors. Performances often feature faculty, student, and guest soloists.
For photos from the concert, click here.
For a high-resolution copy of the Hillsdale College clocktower logo, click here.