McDaniel College students perform in annual spring music concerts

During April and May, McDaniel College students are featured in musical performances that are free and open to the public. For more information about the upcoming performances listed below, call 410-857-2599.​​

Student Solo Recital 

On Friday, April 21, at 7 p.m. in Coley Rice Lounge, the Student Solo Recital features 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, staff accompanist; Kyle Engler, senior lecturer of Music; and Waka Osifchin, senior adjunct lecturer of Music.

The recital includes the following students:

Pianists

• Makalya Calamita of Fleetwood, Pennsylvania 
• Eve Calderon-Caswell of New York, New York 
• Jayden Rodwell of Brooklyn Park, Maryland 
• Brealynn Taylor of Mount Airy, Maryland 
• AnnMarie Walker of Oceanside, California

Vocalists

• Sarah Aleman of Millsboro, Delaware
• Russell Campbell of Burtonsville, Maryland 
• Madison Dehais of Montpelier, Virginia 
• Jordan Greene of Baltimore
• Kobe Morrison of Baltimore 
• Nina Porter of Silver Spring, Maryland 
• Margaret Riekenberg of South Orange, New Jersey
• Gabrielle Robinson of Reisterstown, Maryland 
• Shakara Sapp of Upper Marlboro, Maryland 
• Danyelle Spaar of Baltimore
• Isabel Townsend of Olney, Maryland 
• Emma Walther of York, Pennsylvania 
• Hadley Watts of Apo, A.E. 
• Reese Weaver of Brandywine, Maryland 
• Moonasia Williams of Baltimore 

College Choir in Concert  

On Sunday, April 23, at 7 p.m. in Baker Memorial Chapel, McDaniel College's Choir presents its spring concert, “Music from France and the Diaspora."  The concert features movements from the Durufle Requiem to the gypsy jazz of Django Rheinhardt. The choir is under the direction of Kyle Engler, senior lecturer of Music, with Peggy Brengle serving as accompanist.  The program includes music from diverse locales and historical eras. The College’s A Cappella singers are also featured on several selections. 

The choir includes the following students: 

• Daniel Adum of Gaithersburg, Maryland 
• Mackenzie Bell of Hanover, Maryland 
• Baeden Blackburn of South Hadley, Massachusetts
• Akasha Campbell of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 
• Danielle Carter of Rockville, Maryland 
• Abigail Cassarino of Pasadena, Maryland 
• Madison Dehais of Montpelier, Virginia 
• Anjali Finn of Potomac, Maryland 
• Rebekah Garrett of Pasadena, Maryland 
• Arielle Harris of Baltimore 
• Sommer Hill of Owings, Maryland 
• Thomas Kormann of Glenwood, Maryland
• Lauren Logue of New Windsor, Maryland 
• James Murray III of Severn, Maryland
• Bella Meyers of Mount Airy, Maryland 
• Nina Porter of Silver Spring, Maryland 
• Sarah Price of Glen Burnie, Maryland 
• Tyra Pritchett of Hanover, Maryland 
• Abigail Proctor of Pasadena, Maryland 
• Devon Reown of Baltimore 
• Ashley Reyes of Mount Airy, Maryland 
• Margaret Riekenberg of South Orange, New Jersey 
• Gabrielle Robinson of Reisterstown, Maryland 
• Miriam Sall of Abington, Pennsylvania 
• Faye Shortley of York, Pennsylvania 
• Paul Steinert of Dundalk, Maryland 
• Isabel Townsend of Olney, Maryland 
• Maya Valdez of Elmhurst, Illinois 
• Emma Walther of York, Pennsylvania 
• Hadley Watts of Apo, A.E. 
• Reese Weaver of Brandywine, Maryland 
• Moonasia Willams of Baltimore 

The choir also includes the following faculty and staff members:

• Margaret Christie, assistant professor of Environmental Studies
• Christopher Fornchor, safety officer
• Michael Hirsh, adjunct lecturer on Percussion

Student African Drum Ensemble 

The Student African Drum Ensembles perform on Thursday, April 27, at 7 p.m. in Naganna Forum. The ensembles are under the direction of McDaniel Music faculty member Pape Demba "Paco" Samb, a “Senegalese Griot,” or West African historian, storyteller, singer, poet, dancer, and/or musician.  Samb grew up in Senegal, learning to play the drums, and came to the U.S. in 2013.  Samb originally came to the U.S. to perform with his band and, once he arrived here, he decided to stay.  

The ensemble includes the following students:  

• Kyra Banks of Germantown, Maryland 
• Jack Buckley of Apo, A.E. 
• Amanda Butz of Perry Hall, Maryland 
• Thomas Fagiolo of Takoma Park, Maryland
• Joseph Farace of Owings Mills, Maryland
• Ashley Farrington of Neptune, New Jersey 
• Jade Ferguson of Baltimore 
• Nicholas Foley of Robbinsville, New Jersey
• Breanna Johnson of Baltimore 
• Jaylen Kelley of Waldorf, Maryland 
• Ricki Lebowitz of Princeton, New Jersey 
• Khaleel Lee of Columbia, Maryland 
• Matthew Malhenzie of Etters, Pennsylvania 
• Zachary Micklos of Washington, D.C.
• Alexandra Morris of Severn, Maryland 
• Sung Yoon Park of Gyeonggi-Do, Korea
• Dalton Pearl of Jefferson, Maryland 
• Monte Prinz of King of Prussia, Pennsylvania 
• Cindy Rivera of Riverdale, Maryland 
• Joseph Roberts of Cockeysville, Maryland 
• Jane Smart of New York, New York 
• David Smoot of Baltimore 
• Amanda Sponaugle of Milton, Delaware 
• Teja Squire of Suitland, Maryland 
• Paul Steinert of Dundalk, Maryland 
• Naomi Tamirate of Burtonsville, Maryland 
• Danae Tates of Dundalk, Maryland
• Connor Uhrig of Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania
• Nicco Vargas of Waldorf, Maryland 
• Riley Wolfensberger of Hagerstown, Maryland 

Singing on Stage 

On Sunday, April 30, at 7 p.m. in Dorothy Elderdice Studio Theatre, WMC Alumni Hall, is a performance by the “Singing on Stage” class. Under the direction of Kyle Engler, senior lecturer of Music, students in the class perform several selections from renowned operas and popular Broadway musicals. Staff member Peggy Brengle serves as accompanist. 

This event includes the following students:

• Madison Dehais of Montpelier, Virginia 
• Kobe Morrison of Baltimore 
• Nina Porter of Silver Spring, Maryland 
• Gabrielle Robinson of Reisterstown, Maryland 
• Shakara Sapp of Upper Marlboro, Maryland 
• Danyelle Spaar of Baltimore
• Emma Walther of York, Pennsylvania 
• Reese Weaver of Brandywine, Maryland 

A Capella Ensemble 

On Monday, May 1, at 7:30 p.m. in Baker Chapel, the A Capelle Ensemble, TerrorTones, performs. This group is the premier vocal ensemble at McDaniel College, under the guidance of Kyle Engler, senior lecturer of Music, with Peggy Brengle serving as collaborator. The A Cappella singers are selected from the membership of the McDaniel College Choir.  They perform exclusively unaccompanied vocal music, including a wide variety of world music and vocal jazz.

The ensemble includes the following students:

• Daniel Adum of Gaithersburg, Maryland 
• Baeden Blackburn of South Hadley, Massachusetts
• Danielle Carter of Rockville, Maryland 
• Madison Dehais of Montpelier, Virginia 
• Anjali Finn of Potomac, Maryland 
• Jordan Greene of Baltimore
• Thomas Kormann of Glenwood, Maryland
• Lauren Logue of New Windsor, Maryland 
• James Murray III of Severn, Maryland
• Bella Meyers of Mount Airy, Maryland 
• Sarah Price of Glen Burnie, Maryland 
• Tyra Pritchett of Hanover, Maryland 
• Ashley Reyes of Mount Airy, Maryland 
• Margaret Riekenberg of South Orange, New Jersey 
• Paul Steinert of Dundalk, Maryland 
• Emma Walther of York, Pennsylvania 
• Hadley Watts of Apo, A.E. 
• Reese Weaver of Brandywine, Maryland 
• Moonasia Willams of Baltimore 

Jazz Night

On Thursday, May 4, at 7 p.m. in the Mainstage Theatre, WMC Alumni Hall, is the popular Jazz Night. The concert features styles of jazz representing classic big band swing, bebop, Latin, funk, jazz-rock, and classic blues.  Tim Jenkins, senior lecturer of Music, directs.

The event includes alum Malcom Watts '22 and the following students:

• Taylor Alexander of Baltimore
• Harrison Booth of Leola, Pennsylvania
• Jordan Greene of Baltimore
• Elijah Johnson of Laurel, Maryland 
• Dameion Knight of Fort Washington, Maryland 
• Carrie Liffiton of Bethesda, Maryland 
• Kyle Sarnowski of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania 
• Zoe Shelby of North East, Maryland 
• Sage Wann of New Market, Maryland 
• Hadley Watts of Apo, A.E. 

College Band Concert 

The McDaniel College Band performs on Friday, May 5, at 7 p.m. in the Mainstage Theatre, WMC Alumni Hall. Linda Kirkpatrick, senior lecturer of Music, directs the band, which features approximately 50 students, faculty members, band alumni, and community musicians, performing everything from classical to pops.

The band includes Michael Hirsh, adjunct lecturer of Music, and Robert Sirois, senior adjunct lecturer of Music, and the following students: 

• Evan Benesch of Silver Spring, Maryland 
• Zachary Brown of Taneytown, Maryland
• Ngum Fofou of Randallstown, Maryland 
• Elijah Johnson of Laurel, Maryland 
• Kendall Lanham-Fennell of Woodbridge, Maryland 
• Anjani Martins of Silver Spring, Maryland 
• Allyson McGowan of Elkton, Maryland 
• Farrah Ouattara of Bowie, Maryland 
• Whittney Patterson of Baltimore
• Emily Robinson of Eden, Maryland 
• Julia Schnitzer of Gaithersburg, Maryland 
• Maya Valdez of Elmhurst, Illinois 

The event also includes the following alumni: 

• Shannon Bernier ’19 
• Esther Jones ‘14 
• Deborah Seidel ’84
• Jim Tarr '80

Westminster Symphony Orchestra

The Westminster Symphony Orchestra Concert takes place Saturday, May 6, at 3 p.m. at Scott Center, Carroll Community College.

Directed by senior music lecturer Linda Kirkpatrick with Cindy Rosenberg serving as assistant director, the Westminster Symphony Orchestra is composed of McDaniel students and music faculty, Carroll Community College students and music faculty, and community musicians.

The concert features music from the movies, “Harry Potter,” “Frozen,” and “Encanto,” plus music from Video Games Live, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice and Rimsky Korsakov’s The Snow Maiden. 

The orchestra is comprised of Rachel Andrews, staff accompanist, Nicholas Currie, senior adjunct lecturer of Music, Michael Hirsh, adjunct lecturer of Music, Mindy Niles, senior adjunct lecturer of Music, David Motter, senior adjunct lecturer of Music, and Robert Sirois, senior adjunct lecturer of Music, along with students, Jack Livingston of North Potomac, Maryland, and Abigail Rubin of Westminster, Maryland.

Gospel Choir Concert 

The Gospel Choir’s spring concert is Saturday, May 6, at 7:30 p.m., in Mainstage Theatre, WMC Alumni Hall. In addition to traditional and contemporary gospel music, the program also features spirituals. The choir is under the direction of Shelley Ensor, senior adjunct lecturer of Music. Alice Dorsey serves as accompanist.

The choir includes Safety Officer Christopher Fornchor and alum Kathleen Jacobs '22, along with the following students: 

• Stella Agbodeka of Gwynn Oak, Maryland 

• Tamrah Blanchard of Aberdeen, Maryland 

• Osato Charles-Omoregbe of Bowie, Maryland 

• Montara Clay of Ellicott City, Maryland 

• Kaziya Della of Baltimore 

• Corey Foote Baltimore 

• Shayli Garcia-Carranza of Montgomery Village, Maryland 

• Monzel Jasmine of Baltimore 

• Lauren Logue of New Windsor, Maryland 

• Peace Odumeru of Severn, Maryland 

• Jani’ Pierre of Pikesville, Maryland 

• Danielle Whittington of Upper Marlboro, Maryland 

• Laura Wilson of Halethorpe, Maryland