Violinist Sorica Dimova, Clarinet player Victor Rescher and pianist Henry Jones perform for students at the faculty showcase recital.
Amber Grace Garrard/The Lion's Roar

Normally, one music department presents the faculty showcase recital, but this year was a team effort of professors across the department.

A variety of music professors, alumni and members of the Baton Rouge Symphony put on a Faculty Showcase Recital with the hope of getting students exposed to different forms of music on Monday, Oct. 10 at 7:30 p.m.

“So this semester, I took a different approach and tried to involve more of the faculty,” said Victor Drescher, a clarinet instructor and music appreciation teacher. “That way we could get more students from different areas and get a wider audience. It also gives the audience a different sound to listen to on each piece rather than the same sound all night.”

The range of professors allowed more students to be encouraged to attend. Students taking music appreciation courses were even offered extra credit for going.

“I wanted to hear music played at the next level, but also my teacher kind of told me I had to come hear them perform,” said Brian Williams, a communication major with a minor in music. “I was blown away by the skill of it and how it’s beautiful that they are professionals and already have a lot on their plates, yet they put this together in their free time to come, together and perform for us.”

The only time the teachers heard each other perform their material for the concert was the concert itself.

“We just found time in our schedules to rehearse with each of the different groups,” said Drescher. “We never all ran everything together once. Tonight’s concert was the first time all of the groups got to hear each other.”

The whole reason for the showcase is for students to gain an appreciation for music that will last beyond their college years.

“If students don’t expose themselves to classical music and see that culture and get exposed to that in college, I find that rarely once they get out they will seek those kind of things,” said Drescher.

Drescher continued to explain that all the instructors have the same goal to expose students to this culture of music so that they will support the arts.

“This is the last chance to catch some of these college students and expose them to this kind of culture,” said Drescher. “The hope is that they go out and go to more concerts and professional symphony concerts and support the arts.”

Flautist Shanna Drescher performs at the faculty showcase recital accompanied by pianist Heny Jones.
Amber Grace Garrard/The Lion's Roar