2008 Woodie Awards
Senior piano major set to complete
Alyson Browning
Issue date: 3/30/07 Section: In the Spotlight
- Page 1 of 1
Over 700 hours of practice time, 25 hours worth of lessons, and 17 years of pure talent have been poured into Michal Richert's senior piano recital. Richert will perform her third and final recital at Southwest Baptist University at 7 p.m. Friday, March 30 in Meyer Recital Hall.
Richert's recital will include "Ballade for piano No. 3 in A flat major, Opus 47" by Frederic Chopin, "Sonata in C, Opus 2 No. 3" by Ludwig van Beethoven and "Gargoyles" by Lowell Liebermann.
Students desiring to give a recital are required to perform a recital hearing. Richert's hearing took place a week before her recital. She played all of her pieces for the hearing panel, Dr. Bill Brown, dean of the Geneva Casebolt College of Music, Arts and Letters, and Dr. Melinda Smashey, associate professor of music.
Most students get nervous before their hearings, and are unsure of what to expect.
"As it is my third time, it is old hat," said Richert.
Richert had hearings before her previous two recitals. In spring 2005, Richert performed her sophomore recital, and in spring 2006, she performed her junior recital.
"Chopin is great because it is so dramatic and romantic, but the gargoyles are so exciting and scary, the people are going to be on the edges of their seats," Richert said with a smile.
Smashey, Richert's piano teacher, has played a big role in the improvement of Richert's playing.
"We get along really well, so our teacher-student relationship is really good," said Richert. "She's willing to give me information and I'm willing to take it and make adjustments to the best of my ability. Because she has a great knowledge and such a talent for the piano, she has a lot to teach and a lot to give."
Richert is a well-respected musician in the music department at SBU. She has participated in several ensembles within the department. Richert has been the principle flautist in Symphonic Winds for four years. Richert has accompanied several voice students over her four years at SBU. She is currently accompanying three students.
The extent of Richert's piano playing doesn't end at SBU. She plays piano at Mt. Gilead United Methodist Church on Sundays with her fiance, SBU graduate student Jon Rector.
Richert will graduate in May with a Bachelor of Science in General Music. She will also receive her Piano Pedagogy Certificate and her Performer's Certificate.
Richert knows exactly what she's doing after she graduates.
"Grad school," said Richert. "Well, first I'm going to get married, but then there's grad school."
Richert's recital will include "Ballade for piano No. 3 in A flat major, Opus 47" by Frederic Chopin, "Sonata in C, Opus 2 No. 3" by Ludwig van Beethoven and "Gargoyles" by Lowell Liebermann.
Students desiring to give a recital are required to perform a recital hearing. Richert's hearing took place a week before her recital. She played all of her pieces for the hearing panel, Dr. Bill Brown, dean of the Geneva Casebolt College of Music, Arts and Letters, and Dr. Melinda Smashey, associate professor of music.
Most students get nervous before their hearings, and are unsure of what to expect.
"As it is my third time, it is old hat," said Richert.
Richert had hearings before her previous two recitals. In spring 2005, Richert performed her sophomore recital, and in spring 2006, she performed her junior recital.
"Chopin is great because it is so dramatic and romantic, but the gargoyles are so exciting and scary, the people are going to be on the edges of their seats," Richert said with a smile.
Smashey, Richert's piano teacher, has played a big role in the improvement of Richert's playing.
"We get along really well, so our teacher-student relationship is really good," said Richert. "She's willing to give me information and I'm willing to take it and make adjustments to the best of my ability. Because she has a great knowledge and such a talent for the piano, she has a lot to teach and a lot to give."
Richert is a well-respected musician in the music department at SBU. She has participated in several ensembles within the department. Richert has been the principle flautist in Symphonic Winds for four years. Richert has accompanied several voice students over her four years at SBU. She is currently accompanying three students.
The extent of Richert's piano playing doesn't end at SBU. She plays piano at Mt. Gilead United Methodist Church on Sundays with her fiance, SBU graduate student Jon Rector.
Richert will graduate in May with a Bachelor of Science in General Music. She will also receive her Piano Pedagogy Certificate and her Performer's Certificate.
Richert knows exactly what she's doing after she graduates.
"Grad school," said Richert. "Well, first I'm going to get married, but then there's grad school."
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