McDaniel College students perform in annual fall music concerts

The Student Solo Recital on Friday, Nov. 10, featured a selection of vocal and piano soloists performing a variety of music spanning from classical to contemporary. Students involved study under McDaniel Music faculty members Rachel Andrews, David Duree, Kyle Engler, and Waka Osifchin. 

The program included music by Luigi Bassi, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, Frédéric Chopin, Alexander Scriabin, Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick, Stefano Donaudy, Kurt Weill and Langston Hughes, Francis Poulenc, and Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz. 

Students who performed included:

• Makayla Calamita, senior Psychology major from Fleetwood, Pennsylvania 
• Eve Calderon-Caswell, senior English major from New York, New York 
• Russell Campbell, senior Environmental Studies major from Burtonsville, Maryland 
• Noah Carpenter, junior Cinema-Theatre Arts major from Silver Spring, Maryland
• Precious Davies, first-year Health Sciences major from Germantown, Maryland 
• Madison Dehais, senior Theatre Arts and Food Studies major from Montpelier, Virginia 
• Jamie Martinez, first-year American Sign Language major from Bronx, New York
• Olivia Martinez, first-year Criminal Justice major from Clarksburg, Maryland 
• Nina Porter, junior Theatre Arts major from Silver Spring, Maryland
• Margaret Riekenberg, senior Theatre Arts and English major from South Orange, New Jersey 
• Gabie Robinson, junior Theatre Arts and Social Work major from Reisterstown, Maryland 
• Jayden Rodwell, sophomore Marketing major from Brooklyn Park, Maryland 
• RJ Schnitzer, senior Cinema-Theatre Arts major from Gaithersburg, Maryland 
• Hadley Watts, junior Theatre Arts major from Apo

The McDaniel College Choir presents its fall concert, “Peace/Alleluia,” on Sunday, Nov. 19, at 7 p.m. in Baker Memorial Chapel. The choir is under the direction of Kyle Engler, senior lecturer of Music, with Peggy Brengle serving as accompanist. The concert also features several student soloists, as well as student conductors, Jordan Greene, junior Cinema major, and Hadley Watts, junior Theatre Arts major.

The program includes music from diverse locales and historical eras. Selections include two Alleluias, one by Randall Thompson and one by Ivo Antognini; the glorious opera chorus from Verdi’s "Nabucco," "Va, pensiero;" "Fire" by Katerina Gimon; "They are Mother" by Jennifer Lucy Cook; "Only in Sleep" by Eriks Esenvalds; and an arrangement of the Bob Dylan classic, "The Times They are A-Changin."

The Green TerrorTones, the college’s a cappella singers, are also featured on several selections, including the classics “Autumn Leaves" by Johnny Mercer, Joseph Kosma, and Jacques Prévert; "Moon River” by Johnny Mercer and Henry Mancini; “I Wish You Love” by Léo Chauliac and Charles Trenet; “All the Things You Are" by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II; “This Christmas” by Donny Hathaway; and pop hits by Coldplay, Cyndi Lauper, Imagine Dragons, and Calum Scott. 

McDaniel students in the College Choir include:

• Danny Adum, senior Biology major from Gaithersburg, Maryland* 
• Kevin Aquino, junior Theatre Arts and Spanish major from Mount Airy, Maryland
• Baeden Blackburn, sophomore Psychology major from South Hadley, Massachusetts* 
• Linda Brown, first-year student from Rosedale, Maryland
• Zachary Brown, senior Biology and History major from Taneytown, Maryland 
• Akasha Campbell, sophomore Elementary Education major from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
• Russell Campbell, senior Environmental Studies major from Burtonsville, Maryland 
• Danielle Carter, junior Political Science major from Rockville, Maryland* 
• Abigail Cassarino, sophomore from Pasadena, Maryland
• Gabriel Cintron, first-year student from Rockville, Maryland 
• Madison Dehais, senior Theatre Arts and Food Studies major from Montpelier, Virginia* 
• Samuel Durocher, junior Theatre Arts major from Baltimore 
• Alyson  Ferguson, junior Kinesiology major from Westminster, Maryland 
• Isabelle Grant, first-year student from Annandale, Virginia 
• Jordan Greene, junior Cinema major from Baltimore* 
• Arielle Harris, sophomore Biology major from Baltimore*
• Sommer Hill, first-year Biomedical Science major from Owings, Maryland 
• Emma Janisch, first-year student from Saint Louis, Missouri 
• Lauren Logue, senior Health Sciences major from New Windsor, Maryland* 
• Olivia Martinez, first-year Criminal Justice major from Clarksburg, Maryland
• James Murray III, first-year Elementary Education major from Purcellville, Virginia*
• Bella Myers, senior Theatre Arts major from Mt. Airy, Maryland* 
• Sarah Price, senior Kinesiology major from Glen Burnie, Maryland* 
• Tyra Pritchett, senior Psychology major from Hanover, Maryland
• Chloe Raymond, first-year student from Kensington, Maryland 
• Devon Reown, junior History major from Baltimore
• Ashley Reyes, senior Health Sciences major from Mount Airy, Maryland* 
• Margaret Riekenberg, senior Theatre Arts and English major from South Orange, New Jersey*
• Gabrielle Robinson, junior Theatre Arts and Social Work major from Reisterstown, Maryland* 
• Miriam Sall, sophomore American Sign Language major from Abington, Pennsylvania 
• Emily Sherk, senior History major from Bethesda, Maryland 
• Faye Shortley, first-year student from York, Pennsylvania 
• Jaylin Smith, sophomore Theatre Arts and English major from Sykesville, Maryland 
• Paul Steinert, junior Elementary Education major from Dundalk, Maryland* 
• Isabel Townsend, senior Theatre Arts major from Olney, Maryland 
• Madison Tranchitella, sophomore Social Work major from Elmhurst, Illinois 
• Maya Valdez, senior Sociology and Biology major from Olney, Maryland 
• Jeremy Volker, senior Sociology major from Halethorpe, Maryland* 
• Emma Wagner, senior Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies major from Nottingham, Maryland
• Hadley Watts, junior Theatre Arts major* from Apo
• Reese Weaver, sophomore Theatre Arts major from Brandywine, Maryland* 
• Moonasia Williams, sophomore Cinema major from Baltimore*

*Adum, Blackburn, Carter, Dehais, Greene, Harris, Logue, Murray, Myers, Price, Reyes, Riekenberg, Robinson, Steinert, Volker, Watts, Weaver, and Williams also comprise the Green TerrorTones.

The Student African Drum Ensembles perform Thursday, Nov. 30, at 7 p.m. in Roj Student Center's Naganna Forum. 

The program features the traditional African songs “Kuku,” “Macaru,” "Mengani,” and “Lambaa," under the direction of Senior Adjunct Lecturer Pape Demba “Paco” Samb, a Senegalese griot. 

Students performing in the two ensembles include:

• Tamrah Blanchard, senior Business Administration major from Aberdeen, Maryland 
• Vaishali Bhatt, junior Kinesiology major from Media, Pennsylvania 
• Abigail Cook, senior Kinesiology major from Fredericksburg, Virginia
• Quinn Dietsche, junior Kinesiology major from Newburyport, Massachusetts 
• Aleksei Dudley, senior Kinesiology major from Arlington, Virginia 
• Marina Ferriola, sophomore Psychology major from Garnet Valley, Pennsylvania 
• Janiah Fields, junior Psychology major from Baltimore
• Monica Fuentes, sophomore Psychology major from Silver Spring, Maryland 
• Jordan Greene, junior Cinema major from Baltimore
• Joseph  Hickey, junior Business Administration major from Easton, Maryland
• Elena Hincapie, senior Political Science major from Glenside, Pennsylvania 
• Alexander Huffer, senior Accounting and Business Administration major from Williamsport, Maryland
• Alfonzo Iglesias, sophomore Computer Science major from Waldorf, Maryland 
• Corey King, senior Computer Science major from Ocala, Florida 
• Quinn Kirk, junior Psychology major from Rockville, Maryland 
• Carrie Liffiton, sophomore from Bethesda, Maryland 
• Jennifer Madison, sophomore Writing and Publishing major from Reisterstown, Maryland  
• Taylor Mazan, senior Kinesiology major from Baltimore
• Yoann Olympio, senior Physics major from Gaithersburg, Maryland 
• Yeseniah Ortiz, senior Kinesiology major from Glassboro, New Jersey 
• Ashley Reyes, senior Health Sciences major from Mount Airy, Maryland 
• Michaela Richardson, senior Health Sciences major from Lusby, Maryland 
• Matthew Schickner, senior Communication major from Ellicott City, Maryland 
• Tyshaun Smith, junior Marketing major from Baltimore
• Javon Spencer, junior Business Administration major from New Castle, Delaware
• Allison Storm, senior Accounting and Business Administration major from Abingdon, Maryland  
• Marley Wilson, junior American Sign Language major from York, Pennsylvania 

Tim Jenkins, senior adjunct lecturer, directs Jazz Night on Thursday, Dec. 7, at 7 p.m., in WMC Alumni Hall. The concert features diverse styles of jazz, including classic big band swing, bebop, Latin, funk, jazz-rock, and classic blues.

Highlights of the program include "Dog Days are Over" by Florence Welch/Isabella Summers (arrangement by Tim Jenkins); "I Love You, Lord" by Laurie Klein (arrangement by Tim Jenkins); "Cornbread" by Lee Morgan (arrangement by Mark Taylor); "The Preacher" by Horace Silver (arrangement by Frank Mantooth); "Let's Go Away for Awhile" by Brian Wilson (arrangement by Tim Jenkins); "New Mistake" by Andy Sturmer/Roger Joseph Manning, Jr. (arrangement by Tim Jenkins); "Pretzel Logic" by Donald Fagen/Walter Becker; "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?" by Frank Loesser (arrangement by Tim Jenkins);"Golden Lady" by Stevie Wonder; and "When Sunny Gets Blue" by Jack Segal/Marvin Fisher (arrangement by Jerry Nowak).

Students performing include:

• Zero Alexander, sophomore Psychology major from Baltimore 
• Harrison Booth, senior Environmental Studies and Writing & Publishing major from Leola, Pennsylvania
• Jordan Greene, junior Cinema major from Baltimore 
• Brendan Kirby, first-year student from Westminster, Maryland
• Carrie Liffiton, sophomore from Bethesda, Maryland
• Jamie Martinez, first-year student from Bronx, New York
• Kyle Sarnowski, junior Cinema major from Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
• Zoe Shelby, junior Art major from North East, Maryland
• Emily Trachoo, senior Marketing major from Frostburg, Maryland
• Sage Wann Oddo, senior Communication major from New Market, Maryland 
• Hadley Watts, junior Theatre Arts major from Apo

On Friday, Dec. 8, at 7 p.m. in WMC Alumni Hall, nearly 50 musicians, including McDaniel students, as well as McDaniel faculty members, band alumni, and community musicians, perform during the College Band Concert. The College Band is directed by Linda Kirkpatrick, senior lecturer in Music, and performs musical selections ranging from classical to pops.

This semester’s program includes “Juba Dance” by Florence Price, the first African American female composer of symphonic works; two recent compositions by Anthony O’Toole, “Hung Aloft the Night” and “The First Snow;” and “The Eighth Candle” by Steve Reisteter, honoring the first night of Hanukkah. Also on the program are two compositions by world-renowned American composer Julie Giroux, "Nihonbashi," from her “Symphony No. 4, Bookmarks of Japan,” and “Jingle Them Bells,” her rendition of the beloved tune, "Jingle Bells," by James Pierpont.

McDaniel students performing include: 

• Evan Benesch, sophomore from Silver Spring, Maryland
• Zach Brown, senior Biology and History major from Taneytown, Maryland
• Kendall Lanham-Fennell, senior Political Science and Philosophy major from Manassas, Virginia
• Brendan Kirby, first-year student from Westminster, Maryland
• Anjani Martins, sophomore History major from Silver Spring, Maryland
• Allyson McGowan, sophomore Kinesiology major from Elkton, Maryland
• Maya Valdez, sophomore Sociology and Biology major from Elmhurst, Illinois

McDaniel alumni Shannon Bernier '19, Esther Jones '14, Deborah Seidel '84, and Jim Tarr '80 also perform, along with Music department faculty members Mike Hirsh and Robert Sirois. 

Other performers are Carroll Community College students (with dual enrollment at McDaniel) Montrey Brice and Trent Starr; Carroll County high school students Meghan Brown, Nicholas Dunford, Blake Harrison, Miles Hoff, Addison Roach, Katelyn Saelens, and Alliyah Starr; and community musicians Jason Cebulski, Emily Chaffer, Matt Chaffer, Bruce Darsch, Travis Dixon, Dave Fitch, Brian Frazier, Nicole Helie, Jen Hoff, Rita Marcotte, Gordon Masters, Jeffrey Ripps, Marjorie Roberts, Alexander Sacco, Lynne Scherbarth, Ashley Sier, and Erin Welch.

The Westminster Symphony Orchestra Concert takes place Saturday, Dec. 9, at 3 p.m. in WMC Alumni Hall. Directed by Linda Kirkpatrick, senior lecturer in Music, the Westminster Symphony Orchestra is composed of McDaniel and Carroll Community College students, as well as Music faculty and community musicians.

The concert focuses on Eastern European music by composers from that region of the world and arranged by American composers. The program opens with “Prayer for Ukraine" and continues with Eastern European expatriate composer Sergei Prokofiev and his “Lt. Kijé Suite.” Other selections include music by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, “Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24;” holiday music featuring Hanukkah songs; an arrangement of “We Three Kings” for solo violin, piano, and string orchestra featuring McDaniel faculty Nicholas Currie on violin and Rachel Andrews on piano; and concludes with Russian Christmas Music by Alfred Reed.

Additional McDaniel Music faculty performing are Mike Hirsh, David Motter, Mindy Niles, Nick Reider, Robert Sirois, and Alice Tung.

McDaniel students performing are: 

• Emerson Alberti-Ramirez, first-year student from Columbia, Maryland
• Haley Arnold, senior Psychology major from Newburg, Maryland
• Mya James, first-year student from Owings Mills, Maryland
• Exavier Livingston, sophomore from North Potomac, Maryland
• Abigail Rubin, sophomore Art major from Westminster, Maryland

Other performers are McDaniel alum Betsy Meade Turner '02; Carroll Community College faculty member Cindy Rosenberg and Carroll Community College student Brooke Green; Carroll County high school students Sydney Allen, Phillip Bracy, James Corn, Avery Harrison, and Graham Neubert; and community musicians Marie Allee, David Apple, Jeff Baker, Laura Benning, Valerie Bogdan, Nicole Bradbury, Sue Cloud, Colin David, Jerry Diamond, Brian Drake, Lynn Fleming, Brian Frazier, Jessica Geisler, Kent Goble, Gabriel Guerrero, Kirsten Haden, Jennifer Harper, Robin Harrison, Nicole Helie, Kathleen Jansen, Rita Marcotte, Gracie McNeal, JP Neubert, Edie Rice, Jeffrey Ripps, Alexander Sacco, Kevin Solomowitz, Frank Starobin, and Kate Strom.

The Gospel Choir performs Sunday, Dec. 10, at 3 p.m. in WMC Alumni Hall, under the direction of Shelley Ensor, senior adjunct lecturer, with accompanist Alice Dorsey. The Gospel Choir performs traditional and contemporary gospel music, as well as spirituals.

The choir consists of McDaniel students:

• Stella Agbodeka, sophomore Computer Science major from Gwynn Oak, Maryland
• Tamrah Blanchard, senior Business Administration major from Aberdeen, Maryland 
• Russell Campbell, senior Environmental Studies major from Burtonsville, Maryland
• Monty Clay, senior Mathematics major from Ellicott City, Maryland
• Kaziyah Della, sophomore American Sign Language major from Baltimore
• Alyson Ferguson, junior Kinesiology major from Westminster, Maryland
• Shayli Garcia-Carranza, sophomore Elementary Education major from Montgomery Village, Maryland
• Jordan Greene, junior Cinema major from Baltimore
• Monzel Jasmine, junior Kinesiology major from Baltimore
• Lauren Logue, senior Health Sciences major from New Windsor, Maryland
• Soraya Sharif, first-year student from Laurel, Maryland

McDaniel Music faculty members Mike Hirsh and Glenn Caldwell; alumni Kate Jacobs '22, Louise Scalzi '81, and Michael Scalzi '85; and community musicians Michael Armacost, Shawn Dennison, Lenny Foust, and Chris James also perform.