The most promising music students perform on their own in solo recitals throughout the year. Timothy Harris, who is in the second year of his doctorate in Music Performance, played a solo recital on Wednesday, showing off his skill with three different types of saxophone. He said the way he has practiced has changed throughout his studies.
“I used to be able to spend five or six hours practicing each day, particularly while attending the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, for my Master’s,” Harris said. “I have specific goals that I wish to accomplish when I practice and I now measure my success by meeting those goals, not by the clock. I’ve still been known to practice in front of the TV from time to time, but I try to focus and use time wisely.”
Elizabeth Pellegrini, who is studying the bassoon and in her second year of a doctorate, will be performing on Sunday Oct. 23 at 3:30 p.m. She’ll be playing alongside both faculty members and students including a pianist, harp player and flutist in the recital. She said she still gets apprehensive before going solo in front of an audience.
“When I practice I am quite focused,” Pelligrini said. “However, that focus has nothing to do with nerves. Nothing really helps me with the nerves of performing but that is half the fun. It is like riding a roller coaster. It’s a good type of nervousness that keeps me on my toes and makes me a better musician.”
Although Pelligrini is focused intently on bassoon performance for her Doctor of Musical Arts, she was first introduced to music through another musical medium.
“I started taking piano lessons in 1995,” Pelligrini said. “I had saved up money to buy a keyboard because I loved all the cool sounds it could make and I wanted to learn how to create those sounds. As I progressed in my lessons I found that I liked it but I didn’t love it. In 1998, I started playing bassoon.”
Harris, meanwhile, has been playing the saxophone from an early age, and has been pursuing a mastery in several different types. The selections played by Harris and those accompanying him highlighted his skills at baritone, alto and soprano sax.
“I started learning to play saxophone in 6th grade at Monrovia Middle School in 2002, fourteen years ago,” Harris said. “Like every junior high school boy, I wanted to be an athlete, but my parents made me give band a try, and I found that I loved to play.”
Pelligrini’s passion for music that was first piqued by the sounds of the piano, continued to burn as she grew up and brought her to where he is today. As that passion for music continued, she began to fall in love with music and performing. After years of playing music and sharpening her skills, her passion for music remains.
“I love the fact that I could be a part of what seemed like chaos uniting to create such beauty,” Pelligrini said. “I thought it was magical and even now, that feeling hasn’t faded. Playing music is still a magical experience.”
