Recital, awards night showcases piano students
Published: May 27, 2009
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By Gini Davis
A spring recital for piano students of former Creslane Elementary School music teacher Mary Ellen Yost showcased 19 local youth, ranging in age from elementary school through high school students.
The two-part recital, along with the presentation of individual awards, was held at Yost's Eugene studio on May 18.
Featured during the first part were first-year students Jacky Gong and Claire Litchfield; second-year students Kaitlin Culp, Jarod Von Flatern, Zachary Culp and Grace Litchfield; third-year students Kyra Hanson, Walker Carroll, Delaney Pietsch, Lauren Heater, Tiernan Pietsch and Allison Bagenski; and fifth-year student Olivia Powell.
Advanced students performing during part two of the recital were sixth-year student Ralyn Case; eighth-year students Savannah Howard, Jennifer Fincher-Beard and Erick Hendricks, 10th-year student Meghan Jordan and 11th-year student Hanna Shumate.
During the awards portion of the evening, Oregon Music Teachers' Association (OMTA) trophies, recognizing performances over at least three years in OMTA events, were presented to Shumate, Jordan, Hendricks, Fincher-Beard and Case.
Piano Performance trophies, earned by accumulating qualifying points for performing in OMTA recitals and competitions, syllabus testing, studio recitals and Oregon Music Educator Association (OMEA) district and state competitions, were awarded to Case and Hendricks.
Receiving syllabus exam recognition were Fincher-Beard (Level VII), Case (Level V), Kaitlin Culp, Gong, Zachary Culp, Heater, Grace Litchfield, Powell, Delaney Pietsch, Carroll, Bagenski and Tiernan Pietsch.
All students also received certificates and flowers. A Piano Graduation cake was also presented to CHS senior Hendricks, whose mother, Rita Mensinger, was also honored for her support and encouragement of Hendricks' musical studies.
Jordan received a 10-year Piano cake, while Powell received a five-year cake.
Original program art for part one was by Delaney Pietsch, while part two original program art was by Shumate. Jan Johnson served as recital usher.
Part one of the recital, which featured solos by all the younger students, opened with a duet by Heater (primo) and Bagenski (secondo) of The Old Rocking Chair by Martha Mier.
Claire Litchfield played Firefly, At the Game Room and Beethoven's Ode to Joy. Von Flatern played Hush Little Baby, Ferris Wheel and Sailing in the Sun. Kaitlin Culp played Waltz, My Valentine Gift and Time to Celebrate.
Gong played Indian Drumbeats, Duet in G and Honky-Tonk Ride. Zachary Culp played Grumpy Old Troll, The Juggler and No Moon Tonight. Delaney Pietsch played Anyone Home? Op. 117, No. 8 and Scarborough Fair.
Bagenski played Allemande and Minuet. Heater played Dance, Light and Dark and Shadows. Grace Litchfield played March and Kite in the Sky. Hanson played Bagatelle, Melodic Tune, Op. 218, No. 20 and A Little Porcupine, Op. 89, No. 8.
Tiernan Pietsch played Mozart's Bourlesq and A Tale, Op. 98, No. 1. Powell played Menuet in G, from the Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach, Make up Your Mind and Light and Blue. Carroll played The Shepherd Pipes and the self-arranged, The Taj Mahal, by Dennis Alexander.
Part two of the recital opened with a duet by Shumate (primo) and Jordan (secondo) of Ravel's Laideronnette, Imperatrice des pagodes.
Case performed Ballade, Op. 100, No. 15 and Toccatina. Fincher-Beard performed Victor's Piano Solo (from Corpse Bride) and a self-arranged Waltz Medley including Magnolia Waltz, Valse Melancolique and Schubert's Waltz, Op. 77, No. 9. Shumate played Improvisation, from Twelve Virtuoso Studies, Op. 46.
Howard played By the Seaside and My Heart Will Go On (theme from Titanic). Jordan played Ravel's Menuet from Sonatine. Hendricks performed Sonata #31, K.345, Allegrissimo, by Domenico Scarlatti and an original composition, Turning Point.
Shumate (primo) and Jordan (secondo) closed the program with another duet, of Dmitri's Dream by Stecher, Horowitz and Gordon.
"It was a lovely evening of music showcasing our fine piano students of Creswell," Yost said, noting the recital was well received by its audience. "I am so proud of my students," she added.
The final event of the year for Yost's students will be Hendricks' performance at the State OMTA Honors Recital on May 30 in Portland.
"How fortunate I have been to be able to work with him," Yost said of Hendricks, who will enter the jazz studies program at the University of Oregon in the fall, focusing on jazz piano.
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