McDaniel student musicians perform in annual spring concerts

The Student Solo Recital on Friday, April 24, at 7 p.m. in Recital Hall 101, Levine Hall, features vocal and instrumental soloists performing a variety of music spanning from classical to contemporary. 

Students involved study under the direction of Music faculty members Rachel Andrews, staff accompanist; Nicholas Currie, senior adjunct lecturer of music; David Duree, senior adjunct lecturer of music; Kyle Engler, senior lecturer of music; and Waka Osifchin, senior adjunct lecturer of music. 

Students performing include:

• Claire Benton, sophomore from Ashburn, Virginia
• Kyle Coale, sophomore Social Work major from Westminster, Maryland
• Ave Maria Contreras, senior Theatre Arts major from Westminster, Maryland
• Andrea Dechosa, first-year Chemistry major from New Market, Maryland
• Laila Hunt, sophomore Biology major from Nottingham, Maryland
• Kaitlyn Lee, junior Biology major from Gaithersburg, Maryland
• Nov O'Donnell, junior Theatre Arts major from Newark, Delaware
• Leife Pearson, first-year Chemistry major from Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
• Sean Quigley, first-year Political Science major from Rockville, Maryland
• Abigail Russell, junior Philosophy major from Walkersville, Maryland
• Miriam Sall, senior American Sign Language major from Abington, Pennsylvania

McDaniel students perform in the McDaniel College Choir Concert on Sunday, April 26, at 7 p.m. in Baker Memorial Chapel, under the direction of Kyle Engler. 

The spring concert features works of hope and strength, including poetry by students and the works of Christopher Tim, Elaine Hagenberg, Mozart, Rheinberger, and others. The concert will conclude with a rendition of “Can You Hear the People Sing” from “Les Miserable.”

Meg Christie Hasse, assistant professor of Environmental Studies, also performs.

McDaniel students in the College Choir include:

• Hector Aker-Cohen, junior Cinema major from Derwood, Maryland
• Siyon Barthlett, first-year Biomedical Science major from Owings Mills, Maryland
• Terrin Bergschneider, senior Cinema major from Hagerstown, Maryland
• Sophia Braun, junior Mathematics and Computer Science major from Laurel, Maryland
• Linda Brown, senior Sociology and Theatre Arts major from Rosedale, Maryland
• Akasha Campbell, senior Communication major from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
• Allyson Crites, first-year student from Bel Air, Maryland
• Madison Ford, first-year Biology major from Arlington, Virginia
• Rebekah Fraser, first-year Criminal Justice major from Fredericksburg, Virginia
• Lizbeth Funes Menendez, sophomore Business Administration and Accounting major from Silver Spring, Maryland
• Aedan Gannon, sophomore Psychology major from Westminster, Maryland
• Delaney Goodwin, senior Theatre Arts major from Sykesville, Maryland
• Leo Hill, sophomore Writing & Publishing major from Catonsville, Maryland
• Thomas Jackson, sophomore Psychology major from Ellicott Cit, Maryland
• Emma Janisch, senior English and Writing & Publishing major from Saint Louis, Missouri
• Belle Mustacchio, senior Elementary Education major from Purcellville, Virginia
• Nov O’Donnell, junior Theatre Arts major from Newark, Delaware
• Sydney Perry, sophomore Elementary Education major from Sykesville, Maryland
• Nick Ramirez, first-year Early Childhood Education major from Damascus, Maryland
• Chloe Raymond, junior Sociology major from Kensington, Maryland
• Gabie Robinson, senior Theatre Arts and Social Work major from Reisterstown, Maryland
• Ruben Roca, sophomore History major from Columbia, Maryland
• Abigail Russell, junior Philosophy major from Walkersville, Maryland
• Kaitlyn Rytter, first-year Early Childhood Education and American Sign Language major from Frederick, Maryland
• Miriam Sall, senior American Sign Language major from Abington, Pennsylvania
• Ryan Spartin, senior History major from Wilmington, Delaware
• Greg Tush, junior Philosophy major from Reisterstown, Maryland
• Maya Valdez, senior Biology major from Elmhurst, Illinois
• Moonasia Williams, senior Cinema and Asian Studies major from Baltimore
• India Yates, first-year Psychology major from Baltimore

On  Tuesday, April 28, at 7 p.m., in Baker Memorial Chapel, students in McDaniel College’s Student African Drum Ensembles perform, under the direction of Senior Adjunct Lecturer Pape Demba “Paco” Samb.

The program features the traditional African songs “Lambaa," "Kuku,” "Mengani," and “Macaru."  

Students performing in the two ensembles include:

Ensemble One

• Maddie Brennan, senior Psychology major from Glenville, Pennsylvania
• Kaylee Comstock, sophomore Health Sciences major from North Beach, Maryland
• Sie Coulibaly, senior Computer Science major from Gaithersburg, Maryland
• Ethan Crabb, senior Business Administration and Economics major from Mount Airy, Maryland
• Lamesha Crumble, senior Criminal Justice major from Hurlock, Maryland
• Charlie Dolan, senior Business Administration major from S Glastonbury, Connecticut
• Jen Ikenweiwe, junior Biomedical Science major from Richmond, Texas
• Sean Kelly, senior Business Administration and Economics major from Lewisburg, Pennsylvania
• Caleigh Kohr, senior Psychology major from Bel Air, Maryland
• Amanda Lane, junior Art major from Germantown, Maryland
• Colin Rill, senior Psychology major from Herndon, Virginia
• Aidan Stevenson, senior Environmental Studies major from Shrewsbury, New Jersey
• Payton Summerville, sophomore Psychology major from Baltimore
• Christian Wallenmeyer, senior Psychology and Biology major from Gaithersburg, Maryland

Ensemble Two

• Christiana Alapa, junior Computer Science major from Glen Burnie, Maryland
• Taylor Applefeld, senior Kinesiology major from Grasonville, Maryland
• Justin Edwards, senior Psychology major from Silver Spring, Maryland
• Ryan Felsher, sophomore Psychology major from Gaithersburg, Maryland
• Keonna Gonzalez, junior Kinesiology major from Immokalee, Florida
• Zach Kane, junior Kinesiology major from Huntingtown, Maryland
• Arianna Kelly, junior Political Science major from Clarksburg, Maryland
• Noah McAllister, sophomore Biology major from Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
• Ken Moore, senior Health Sciences major from Laurel, Maryland
• Abdoulie Njie, junior Computer Science and Physics major from Hanover, Maryland
• Eyuel Reta, junior Computer Science major from New Carrollton, Maryland
• Won Stewart, junior Health Sciences major from Hampstead, Maryland
• Fabrizzio Veranovalderrama, junior Accounting major from Potomac, Maryland
• David Webster, senior Kinesiology major from Swan Point, Maryland
   

The Westminster Symphony Orchestra Concert takes place Saturday, May 2, at 3 p.m. at Carroll Community College’s Scott Center. Directed by Linda Kirkpatrick, senior lecturer in Music, the orchestra is composed of McDaniel and Carroll Community College students, as well as Music faculty and community musicians.

The theme for the concert is a tribute to the moon with the premiere of a new arrangement of Count Basie and Frank Sinatra’s “Fly Me to the Moon” by Westminster Symphony Orchestra member Frank Starobin to be sung by McDaniel Senior Adjunct Lecturer Shelley Ensor, who directs the McDaniel College Gospel Choir. Other selections include “The Four Moons” by Native American composer, educator, artist, and journalist Louis Wayne Ballard, Debussy’s “Clair de Lune,” “Moon River” composed by Henry Mancini, and “Apollo 13” by James Horner.

McDaniel students performing are: 

• Emerson Alberti-Ramirez, junior History and Spanish major from Columbia, Maryland
• Andrea Dechosa, first-year Chemistry major from New Market, Maryland
• Khristine Gomez, sophomore Psychology major from Dumfries, Virginia
• Payten Littlejohn, junior Biology and Spanish major from Hanover, Pennsylvania
• Abigail Rubin, senior Art major from Westminster, Maryland

Other performers are McDaniel Music faculty Rachel Andrews, Nicholas Currie, Brian Frazier, Michael Hirsh, David Motter, Mindy Niles, and Robert Sirois along with Carroll Community College faculty member Cindy Rosenberg, who is assistant director.

Community musicians include Mara Ahlquist, Schoen Altland, Georgia Andrews, David Apple, Jeff Baker, Susan Carmichael-Kerry, Sue Cloud, Collin David, Tiffany DiBlasi, Lynn Fleming, Margaret Frazier, Kent Goble,  Sany Haines, Jennifer Harper, Blake Harrison, Robin Harrison, Nicole Helie, Jennifer Hoff, Miles Hoff, Kathleen Jansen, Gracie McNeal, Jennifer Rende, Jeffrey Ripps, Ashley Sier, Kevin Solomowitz, Frank Starobin, Kate Strom, Ethan Warfield, and Erin Welch.

On Sunday, May 3, at 7 p.m. in the Dorothy Elderdice Studio Theatre, WMC Alumni Hall, is a performance by the Singing on Stage class taught by Kyle Engler, senior lecturer of Music. Students perform selections from operas and Broadway musicals.

Engler said, “Because the class is made of entirely of women, we decided to feature music from shows about the Suffragette movement. We will have music from the musicals ‘Suffs’ and ‘Dear Evan Hanson,’ as well as Sondheim, Mozart, Deliebe, Handel, and more. Come enjoy a beautiful and fun evening of staged scenes from musicals and opera in the understage theatre of Alumni Hall!”

This event includes the following students:

• Terrin Bergschneider, senior Cinema major from Hagerstown, Maryland
• Linda Brown, senior Sociology and Theatre Arts major from Rosedale, Maryland
• Ave Maria Contreras, senior Theatre Arts major from Westminster, Maryland
• Nov O’Donnell, junior Theatre Arts major from Newark, Delaware
• Abigail Russell, junior Philosophy major from Walkersville, Maryland
• Miriam Sall, senior American Sign Language major from Abington, Pennsylvania
• India Yates, first-year Psychology major from Baltimore

The Green TerrorTones, the premier vocal ensemble at McDaniel, performs Monday, May 4, at 7 p.m. in Baker Chapel, under the guidance of Kyle Engler, senior lecturer of Music. The students are chosen from the membership of the McDaniel College Choir and perform exclusively unaccompanied vocal music, including a wide variety of world music and vocal jazz.

For the spring concert, the Green TerrorTones performs “storytelling” music by Joni Mitchell, Lady Gaga, Crosby, Stills, & Nash, and more. 

The ensemble includes the following students:

• Siyon Barthlett, first-year Biomedical Science major from Owings Mills, Maryland
• Linda Brown, senior Sociology and Theatre Arts major from Rosedale, Maryland
• Rebekah Fraser, first-year Criminal Justice major from Fredericksburg, Virginia
• Aedan Gannon, sophomore Psychology major from Westminster, Maryland
• Delaney Goodwin, senior Theatre Arts major from Sykesville, Maryland
• Thomas Jackson, sophomore Psychology major from Ellicott City, Maryland
• Belle Mustacchio, senior Elementary Education major from Purcellville, Virginia
• Leo Hill, sophomore Writing & Publishing major from Catonsville, Maryland
• Nov O’Donnell, junior Theatre Arts major from Newark, Delaware
• Nick Ramirez, first-year Early Childhood Education major from Damascus, Maryland
• Gabie Robinson, senior Theatre Arts and Social Work major from Reisterstown, Maryland
• Ruben Roca, sophomore History major from Columbia, Maryland
• Abigail Russell, junior Philosophy major from Walkersville, Maryland
• Kaitlyn Rytter, first-year Early Childhood Education and American Sign Language major from Frederick, Maryland
• Miriam Sall, senior American Sign Language major from Abington, Pennsylvania
• Maya Valdez, senior Biology major from Elmhurst, Illinois
• Moonasia Williams, senior Cinema and Asian Studies major from Baltimore

Adjunct lecturer Brian Frazier directs Jazz Night on Thursday, May 7, at 7 p.m., in WMC Alumni Hall's Mainstage Theatre. The concert features diverse styles of jazz, including classic big band swing, bebop, Latin, funk, rock, and blues.

Selections include “Cafe Rio” by David Benoit and "Blackbird" by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, both arranged by Mike Tomaro, as well as “Josie” by Steely Dan, arranged by George Stone, “My Funny Valentine” by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, arranged by Sammy Nestico, and “The Chicken” by Alfred Ellis, arranged by Kris Berg. The concert also features McDaniel sophomore Dylan Smith’s arrangement of “If I Like It, I Do It” by Jamiroquai and an arrangement by Adjunct Lecturer Brian Frazier of “With an I.E.” by Patrick Glynn.

Students performing include:

• Will Canery, first-year Environmental Studies major from Laurel, Maryland
• Gianna Corrieri, first-year Kinesiology major from York, Pennsylvania
• Chris Cull, junior Political Science and History major from Westminster, Maryland
• Aedan Gannon, sophomore Psychology major from Westminster, Maryland
• Kaitlyn Gebhardt, first-year Psychology major from Laurel, Maryland
• Alyssa Hain, sophomore American Sign Language major from Lovettsville, Virginia
• Leo Hill, sophomore Writing & Publishing major from Catonsville, Maryland
• Emily Knight, sophomore Marketing major from Pocomoke City, Maryland
• Matt Lyons-Bennington, first-year Psychology major from Rockville, Maryland
• Ben Maners, first-year Psychology major from Rising Sun, Maryland
• Connor Marchant, first-year Cinema major from Wilmington, Massachusetts
• Izaiah McKee, first-year Elementary Education major from Mount Airy, Maryland
• Josh Morgan, junior Business Administration major from Bel Air, Maryland
• Seth Rosas, first-year student from Studio City, California
• Dylan Smith, sophomore Art major from Baltimore
• Alex Turbyville Adams, first-year Spanish major from Millersville, Maryland
• Gray Wheatley, sophomore English major from Federalsburg, Maryland

Community members also perform alongside the students, including Schoen Altland, Joe Bowers, Landon Clark, Alex Corns, Margaret Frazier, Jeff Ripps, Braidon Saelens, Emma Waters, and Scott Waters.

Senior Lecturer in Music Linda Kirkpatrick directs the McDaniel College Band Concert on Friday, May 8, at 7 p.m. in WMC Alumni Hall's Mainstage Theatre. The band comprises McDaniel students, as well as McDaniel faculty members, alumni, and community musicians, including students from Carroll Community College and Carroll County Public Schools.

This semester’s program includes selections from movie themes, such as “Schindler’s List,” “Mission: Impossible,” “Pirates of the Caribbean,” “Raiders March” from “Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark,” and “Cantina Band” from “Star Wars: A New Hope.” The concert also includes the “Olympic Fanfare and Theme” composed by John Williams as a tribute to the recent Olympic Winter Games. 

McDaniel students performing include:

• Kailani Becker, first-year Business Administration major from Baltimore
• Stephen Fedorchak, sophomore Business Administration major from Odenton, Maryland
• Ryan Gervasi, junior Environmental Studies major from Street, Maryland
• Ben Maners, first-year student from Rising Sun, Maryland
• Allyson McGowan, senior Health Sciences major from Elkton, Maryland
• Josh Morgan, junior Business Administration major from Bel Air, Maryland
• Leife Pearson, first-year Chemistry major from Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania

McDaniel alumni Shannon Bernier '19, Bruce Darsch '79, Esther T. Jones '14, Debbie Seidel '84, James Tarr '80, and Allison Wyper Ashby '09 perform, along with Music department faculty members Rachel Andrews, Brian Frazier, Michael Hirsh, and Robert Sirois.

Other performers are Carroll Community College students Rhianna Andres, Meghan Brown, Ava Button, Nicholas Dunford, Paige Gordon, Jacob Layton, Erich Repp, and Kylin Taylor; Westminster High School students Joseph Bowers, Blake Harrison, Miles Hoff, and Alex Park; and community musicians Schoen Altland, Jocelyn Buccheister, Emily Chaffer, Collin David, Travis Dixon, Nicole Helie, Jeff Hiner, Gordon Masters, Mike Moser, Jeffrey Ripps, Marjorie Roberts, Mark Runkles, Lynne Scherbarth, Ashley Sier, Frank Starobin, and Erin Welch.

The Gospel Choir performs Saturday, May 9, at 7 p.m. in WMC Alumni Hall's Mainstage Theatre. Directed by Senior Adjunct Lecturer Shelley Ensor, the Gospel Choir performs traditional and contemporary gospel music. 

According to Ensor, this spring program promotes love, peace, joy, and acceptance with music from various artists.  

The choir consists of McDaniel students:

• Sommer Hill, senior Biology major from Owings, Maryland
• Candace Jones, first-year student from Crofton, Maryland
• Lyndie McConaghy, junior Criminal Justice major from Columbia, Maryland
• Marvel Nwabufo, sophomore Psychology major from Abuja, Nigeria
• Taylor Parker, sophomore Social Work major from Elkridge, Maryland
• Miriam Sall, senior American Sign Language major from Abington, Pennsylvania
• Liana Samuel, first-year Health Sciences major from Lancaster, Pennsylvania
• Jaylin Smith, senior Theatre Arts and English major from Frederick, Maryland
• Monet Smith, sophomore Writing & Publishing major from Randallstown, Maryland
• Sarah Wetherson, first-year Health Sciences major from Westminster, Maryland
• Moonasia Williams, senior Cinema and Asian Studies major from Baltimore

Other performers are McDaniel Music faculty member Glenn Caldwell; alumni Kate Jacob '22 and Jordan Greene '24, coordinator of Student Engagement; and community musicians Michael Armacost, Shawn Dennison, Alice Dorsey, Lenny Foust, Chris James, Pam Grimes, Tasha Murray, and Valerie Murray.