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NewsvineHundreds of music lovers have flocked to Campbell Hall to watch student musicians showcase their skills at the Music Department’s annual Senior Recitals this spring. But few in attendance at the shows — which take up to a year to plan — realize how much preparation and planning is involved.
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For many students, the recital is a culmination of several quarters of planning and practice that intensifies after they submit a recital proposal at the end of their junior year.
To prepare for their performances, which are intended to represent the best of their college music, students log four to eight hours of practice each day. They compile a pamphlet of program notes that informs audience members about the historical background of each song in the recital.
“I chose my pieces at the end of my junior year, wrote program notes at the beginning of winter quarter, then had a couple of dress rehearsals as I got closer to the recital,” said pianist Teresa Liu ‘07, who began playing when she was four years old.
Harpsichordist Michael Peterson ‘07 also began practicing early in the year.
“I went over my pieces with my harpsichord teacher,” he said. “And because a lot of them are modern, I traveled to San Francisco to play them for the actual composers.”
Music Dept. Chair Stephen Sano said each performance has a personal touch.
“The experience varies from student to student because the project can be tailored to each student’s specific interest,” Sano said.
Soprano Georgia Duan ‘07 said she is excited to perform lunar themed songs at her upcoming recital, which she has called “Songs to the Moon.”
“I was familiar with the genre, and there’s a sense of awe,” she said, when it comes to “songs sung directly to the moon or what is revealed under the moonlight.”
For many students, hosting a recital provides them a chance to give back to the Stanford community and to thank their family and friends for years of support and encouragement.
“I called my recital ‘On Their Shoulders,’” said Michelle Kwon ‘07. “I wanted to dedicate it to those who helped me.”