Blankenship Recital Hall in the Fine Arts building was filled with a stellar soundtrack on Sunday, March 29.
Crissy Miller, a senior music education major from Jackson, Tennessee, gave an amazing performance for her senior recital. Miller performed six pieces for trombone that varied drastically in style and genre. Her command of the instrument and the pieces she performed was simply superb.
The first piece Miller performed, Fanfare by John Kenny, was awe-inspiring. Miller performed with no accompaniment but made use of the piano on-stage by playing her trombone toward it, which made the piano make chords without a player. The effect was absolutely mesmerizing. The next piece, Fantastic Polka by Arthur Pryor, was up-beat and fun for the audience.
Miller then performed Three Jazz Moods by Elizabeth Raum. The piece was divided into three movements; Cocky, Reflection, and Perplexed. Each movement offered a unique style of jazz. The second movement, Reflection, was dedicated by Miller to a family friend that had recently passed away. Miller performed with passion and reverence, and the audience was quite moved.
After a short intermission, Miller performed Concerto by Gordon Jacob and Sonatina by Jan Koetsier. These pieces were typical of the twentieth century music, and Miller performed the pieces with ease.
The last piece Miller performed was Eaglehawk by Eric Ewazen, which was a trombone trio. Miller was accompanied by junior music education major Ryan Bateman of Jackson and senior music performance major Kevin Freyler of Columbia, Tennessee. The piece was light and fun for the audience and the three musicians were perfectly in sync throughout.
Miller thanked the audience, as well as her colleagues and mentors who have helped shape her into the musician she is today.
When asked about what music means to her, Miller said, “Music is a facet of life that all people share. It is the one earthly apparatus that knows no barriers; therefore, we must embrace it for its significance and its beauty.”
