Students, faculty ignite audience during Opus
Ruth Schluchter was back on campus Saturday night because she wanted to help the School of Music and hear selected performances.
“It just sets your soul on fire,” said Schluchter, a Waterford resident and CMU alumna, in regards to the music featured in the School of Music’s Opus IX.
About 262 people purchased tickets to the event, which helps fund scholarships and equipment purchases.
Last year, $25,000 was raised for the school, said Christine Alwood, director of stewardship and donor relations.
But the event is more than a fund-raiser.
“It’s an opportunity to provide the public with evidence of our students’ talent,” Alwood said.
Student and faculty talent was mainly showcased during a collage style concert in which each musical piece was immediately followed by another and performers were placed all around the Staples Family Concert Hall.
The variety of performers included a drum soloist, two CMU vocal choirs, a trombone choir and vocalists.
“I think it was spectacular,” said Randi L’Hommedieu, chairman of the School of Music. “What a wonderful, warm and appreciative crowd to play for.”
He said the highlight of the evening for him was seeing Robert Lindahl, conductor of the trombone choir and music professor, join the students in a kickline during their performance.
Megan Reid, Saginaw senior and vocal performer, said the crowd was a big factor in the concert’s success.
“It was a fun concert, quick with good music and a great crowd,” she said.
Reid sang “Vanilla Ice Cream” from the show “She Loves Me.”
All performers had to audition for spots in the gala, spots that Opus chairwoman Helen Chase said are very coveted.
“The music is outstanding,” she said.
Schluchter also said she was impressed with the students beyond their musical ability.
“The students are all so friendly,” she said.
This year’s theme was “New Year’s in April: A Fool’s Fete,” since April 1 used to be the day the new year was celebrated.
Before the concert, hors d’oeuvres were served and College of Communication and Fine Arts Dean Sue Ann Martin and University President Michael Rao addressed the crowd and thanked Opus sponsor, TIAA-CREF Financial Services.
