By Rosalia Jimenez
Grand Rapids Community College’s music department will host a faculty recital in the Linn Maxwell Keller Recital Hall on Saturday, March 15, at 2 p.m. The hall is located on the second floor of the Albert P. Music Center.
The recital will feature GRCC collaborative pianist, Justin Colwell, GRCC alum, Carrie Brannen, GRCC guitar professor, Jon Marshall and Grand Valley State University violin faculty, Letitia Jap. These faculty members will perform works by “Goat Rodeo,” Jennifer Higdon, Felix Mendelssohn and Florence Price. The recital will primarily center around classical and art music, integrating elements from the Romantic, Modern, and early 20th-century periods, alongside touches of bluegrass. The program is structured around a piano, violin and cello trio, also known as a piano trio.
Colwell is in his second year as a GRCC faculty member. He has a master’s degree in solo music but has begun focusing more on collaborative performance.
“Faculty recitals are something that’s very typical at music institutions, and for me, working in higher education full time has been a dream for a long time,” Colwell said regarding the focus of a faculty recital. “It’s a way to celebrate that… I think part of it is being able to share music with the students.”
The recital is free to everyone who wants to attend, but seats are limited to 120 people. Tickets can be reserved online, but they are not necessary.
Below are the pieces that will be preformed:
Stuart Duncan, Yo-Yo Ma, Edgar Meyer, and Chris Thile: “Franz and the Eagle” from “The Goat Rodeo Sessions” (2011)
Jennifer Higdon (b. 1962): Piano Trio (2003)
Florence Price (1887-1953): “Night” (1946), arranged by the Merz Trio
Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847): Piano Trio in C Minor, Op. 66 (1845)
