Pianists took center stage at CWU’s piano extravaganza and performed famous pieces and performed for their peers. Piano club members each took their turns in group performances and some solo pieces. Family and friends gathered in the recital hall of McIntyre Hall on May 3, and kicking off the event was a rendition of John Williams’ Star Wars theme, played by piano club members Emmeline Baldwin and Daniel Hankes.
Guests were treated to an array of performances, ranging from quartets specializing in comedy, to a two-man arrangement with two separate pianos. Club members Mimi Ye, Nathan Ortiz, Gavin Ma and Kathryn Amdahl put all their hands together to perform Galop-marche, originally by Albert Lavignac. The quartet prioritized comedy for their piece, shushing one another when one of them would play loud. They even incorporated the audience by signaling to start clapping only to silence the audience shortly after.
A pre-college pianist, Spencer Borchert performed a song from Ernesto Lecuona’s Suite Andalucia, titled Malaguena. Borchert auditioned and was selected out of a multitude of pianists to participate and perform alongside the piano club. Borchert would go on to be the winner of this year’s annual piano extravaganza competition. He is a student of Darin Kaschmitter, pianist and professor at Yakima Valley College.
The piano club also commissioned the Ellensburg dance ensemble to come up with their own performances to match a few of the songs. Notably, on the last song performed, the entire dance ensemble came together, along with the entire piano club, to perform Circus Suite, by Mack McCray. As the song progressed, more and more members started to join, until both groups were up on stage, providing an upbeat atmosphere.
Dr. Yerin Kim, director of keyboard studies, hosted the event, noting that the concert would act as a fundraiser for not only the piano club, but all keyboard studies in the music department. Dr. Kim elaborated on the fundraising, “I see it as a trifold, there are funds used for student education here on campus … another one is students going out to summer festivals … and the third area of funds for design and to bring other artists here.”
The piano extravaganza event is stated to be the only ticketed event through keyboard studies. “It gets funded either by the piano club, or I apply for a grant and I apply for guest artist funding … when they come here through those funds, community members, students and staff can come for free,” Kim said.
With areas of the music program being defunded, holding fundraisers and events like this helps the clubs and the students that are in these programs. “I did read, and I did sign, so I’m getting emails about the protests, and I’m looking forward to joining … I hope to get out there and not give up. Things always change, always in flux, there are ups and downs, but I think as long as you have your priorities clear and try to have a direction, I feel there’s always a way,” Kim said.
