High School Piano
Isabel Munson, piano
Pieces played:
“Nocturne in D Major” - Frederic Chopin
“Excursions I” - Samuel Barber
What are your aspirations on piano?
“My dream for piano would be a performer for the SPCO or Minnesota Orchestra.”
High School Piano
Katherine Lin, piano
Pieces played:
“La puerta del vino” - Claude Debussy
“Etude in D♭” - Franz Liszt
Do you have any thoughts on where you might like to go to school?
“I’m not sure where yet, but I’m thinking Duke or MIT. Someplace with a good biomedical engineering program.”
Junior High Strings
Ruth Conry, violin
“Violin Sonate in E Major” - Paul Hindemith
“Concerto no 4” - Henri Vieuxtemps.
What would you like to do as a violinist?
“I would like to play in a professional orchestra.”
Junior High Strings
Vladimir Tsiper, violin
Irina Elkina, accompanist
Pieces played:
“Spring Sonata” - Ludwig van Beethoven
“Violin Concerto” - Felix Mendelssohn
Which piece do you like best?
“I like the Mendelssohn. I like it, because it’s very energetic, and there are very calm parts. It is never boring, always moving.”
College Percussion
Cody Bourke-Anderson, snare drum and marimba
Pieces played: ‘Swerve’-Gene Koshinski, Kuusi (Spruce)-Jean Sibelius, arr Eriko daimo
What piece do you like more?
'“I really like the ‘Spruce.’ It’s really nice to play something not so contemporary, which all percussion music is. It’s really nice to play something like that.”
College Percussion
Micah Ray, marimba and snare drum with bass drum
“Cameleon” - Eric Sammut
“March” -Joseph Tompkins
What led you to play percussion?
My dad is a drummer, but he mostly played with rock bands when I was a child. He got me a drum set at 11. I did the whole concert band thing. I see my career path as a professor or professional musician.”
College Winds
Annika Johnson, horn
Mary Trotter, accompanist
Piece played:
“Concerto” - Reinhold Gliere
What do you see as the role of the horn?
“I really love the tone quality it has, very similar to the voice and soothing.
College Winds
Alejandro Meza, flute
Elgin Lee, accompanist
Pieces played:
“Flute Concerto” - Carl Nielsen
“Sonata in E Major” - JS Bach
Which piece do you like more?
“I like the Nielsen. It’s really colorful, and it really challenges me.”
College Winds
Brandon Fuhrman, euphonium
Emmeline Liske, accompanist
Piece played:
“Romance for Trombone” - Carl Maria von Weber
Why the euphonium?
“I’m traditionally a trombone player, but I picked up the euphonium. My private teacher talked about euphonium a lot. A lot of trombone players double. I really like the music and culture surrounding it. If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t have the interest in music I do.”
College Winds
Charlie Gannon, alto saxophone
Will Gannon, accompanist (brother)
Pieces played:
“Fantaisie” - Jules Demersseman
“Sonate in C#” - Fernande Decruck
How was co-hosting Classical MPR with Steve Staruch?
“It was absolutely fantastic to talk to someone so knowledgeable about Classical music, especially in a radio setting.”
To Will Gannon:
What is it like accompanying your brother?
“It’s a very different experience just accompanying someone else. We don’t have that distance with us. It’s just a whole lot of fun.”
College Voice
Jacob Wilde, tenor
Pieces performed:
“Ye Verdant Hills” - George Frederick Handel
“L’invito” - Giaocchino Rossini
What are your aspirations as a vocalist?
“I would like to do opera professionally.”
High School Winds
Laura and Megan Schoenzeit, clarinet and flute
As sisters, do you have a rivalry?
Laura: “I guess sometimes but not too much. We play different instruments.”
Megan: “I agree with what Laura says.”
Russ Sweet, alto saxophone
Pieces performed:
“Fantaisie” - Jules Demersseman
“Prelude, cadence et finale” - Alfred Desenclos
Which piece do you like best?
“The Desenclos. The finale has tons of energy, and it’s different. It’s not something you hear on other instruments. It’s unique.”
Rufina Robbins, soprano
Emily Urban, accompanist
Pieces performed:
“Oh, had I Jubal’s lyre” - George Frederick Handel
“Gretchen am spinnrade” - Franz Schubert
Do you have to learn German to sing repertoire like the Schubert?
“I’m in German diction, so I know how to pronounce it, especially when it comes to singing.”
High School Winds
Johnny Yue, bassoon
Pieces played:
“Concerto in E minor” - Antonio Vivaldi
“Concerto in C Major” - Jan Kozeluh
Why did you choose the bassoon?
“I used to play cello. I was in music class and heard ‘Peter and the Wolf.’ I was really interested and wanted to expand, and one of my best friends played it.”