The Music Department presented a Faculty Showcase Recital on Sunday, March 16, in the Chowan Chapel. Dr. Mary Hellmann, Chair of the Music Department, introduced a diverse program that ranged from classical works by Franz Joseph Haydn to contemporary compositions from the 21st century. In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, the performance also included a selection of lively Irish music. Dr. Hellmann thanked The Friends of Music and especially Charles Pond for sponsoring the Juanita Pond Chamber Music Series.

The concert opened with Dr. Christopher Cook presenting Motor, a purely electronic composition. Inspired by his childhood fascination with the sounds of machinery, Dr. Cook created a unique soundscape featuring recordings of explosions, gears, appliances, and mechanical systems. Motor was selected to represent the United States at the Electroacoustic Music Days in Rethymno, Greece, and was also chosen for the Society for Electro-Acoustic Music in the United States (SEAMUS) 2024 album release.

Dr. Chad McGill, trumpet and brass instructor at Chowan, followed with a trumpet performance of Song to the Moon from Dvořák’s Rusalka Op. 114. The piece tells the story of Ježibaba warning Rusalka that, if she becomes human, she will lose her power of speech and immortality; furthermore, if she does not find love with the prince, he will die, and she will be eternally damned. The rain and clouds outside, combined with the chapel’s windowed architecture, added an atmospheric quality to the sound of the trumpet. Personalizing the moment, Dr. McGill shared that “moon” was the first word he spoke as a baby.

Dejuan Lee, a 2018 Chowan University graduate and current staff pianist, performed a beautiful work by French composer Cécile Chaminade, followed by a movement from a Haydn Sonata on Chowan’s exquisite Steinway Concert D piano.

Ron Johnson, percussion instructor, showcased his new marimba, an instrument resembling a large xylophone. The audience enjoyed the marimba’s vibrant and resonant tones, a rare live experience for many in attendance.

Flutist Suzanne Daniel then performed Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano Trio, accompanied by Dr. Mary Hellmann on piano, Dr. Christopher Cook on bass, and Ron Johnson on drums. The ensemble delivered a lively performance blending classical and jazz influences.

The afternoon’s highlight was Birds, a piano piece composed for Dr. Hellmann by Dr. Christopher Cook. The work premiered in Murfreesboro in 2024 before being selected for the National Conference of the College Music Society in Washington, D.C., and was also featured at the New York City Electronic Music Festival. It will be performed at the Missouri Experimental Sonic Arts Festival, the SEAMUS Conference at Purdue University, the College Music Society’s Mid-Atlantic Conference at Bridgewater College, Virginia, and the Electronic Music Midwest Festival in Kansas City, Kansas.

The recital, a celebration of faculty talent, offered a memorable afternoon of music for all who attended.