Senior music majors highlight musical proficiency through online performances

Salve Regina is in the midst of celebrating the tireless efforts of the Class of 2020, despite the challenges that the University experienced during Virtual Salve. Today, seniors in the music program will be showcased.

Usually, students in performance and/or music education must perform in a solo recital their senior year, which is in the spring semester. This is in conjunction with a senior thesis that they present in their capstone class.

In a normal semester, seniors will collaborate with an accompanist or with other musicians to prepare for the recital. They invite family, friends and their professors to attend. In order to get a good grade, they must perform with technical proficiency and present a program that meets the music program’s high standards for public performance.

Due to social distancing, seniors could not collaborate with accompanists and other musicians in person, and so that had to be accomplished online. The resulting product was a recording of their repertoire that they had created with their instructors’ help and guidance. Each student then had online performances on May 22, 23 and 30.

“It’s nothing short of amazing,” said Don St. Jean, associate professor of music. “These students have risen to the challenge, and with their instructors have created recordings that are representative of the work in applied music lessons over the last four years at Salve Regina.”

Celebrating senior music projects