To crescendo the faculty recitals, Gordon Hicken, professor of music and associate director of bands, Andrew J. Allen and Tim Justus, assistant professors of music, performed at Akin Auditorium on Sept. 11.

“I want to bring keyboard elements, melodic elements, as well as rhythmic and really anything I can do to expand people’s horizon of what is possible with percussion music,” Hicken said. “I tried to represent different percussion instruments because percussion encompasses anything you can hit, shake, or strike.”

According to Hicken, his closing piece The Whimsical Nature of Small Particle Physics by Ben Wahlund, is his favorite piece he performed that evening. It featured a snare drum and digital playback of particle collisions and machinery at a lab.

“It’s cool because you get to interact with audio tracts but, also feature my own skill blend with the sound,” he said.

Sharon Mucker, vocal performance senior, enjoyed the variety of the pieces and the contrast between the fun pieces and song-like pieces. According to Mucker, some of the songs were able to “bring tears to your eyes” while others were very intricate. 

“It’s not only important to study music and perform, but to support your peers, your professors, your colleagues as much as possible,” she said.

According to Mucker, she tries to attend every meeting or recital the music department puts on.

According to Hicken, there are numerous opportunities to attend performances throughout the school year.

• University Wind Ensemble and University Orchestra on Oct. 5 at 7:30 p.m.
• Music Series at Akin: The Escher Quartet on Oct. 24 at 7:30 p.m.
• Faculty Recital: Dr. Andrew Allen at 7:30 p.m.
• Clarinet on Oct. 26 at 7:30 p.m.
• Oratorio Chorus Oct. 29 at 3:00 p.m.
• Octuba Fest on Oct. 30 at 7:30 p.m.
• Woodwind Chamber Ensemble on Nov. 14 at 7:30 p.m.
• Guest Recital: Alan Bowers, tenor on Nov. 16 at 7:30 p.m.
• University Wind Ensemble- Fantasy of Lights on Nov. 20 at 7:00-8:00 p.m.
• University Wind Ensemble Nov. 28 at 7:30 p.m.
• University Jazz Ensemble on Nov. 30 at 7:30 p.m.
• University Choir, Oratorio Chorus, and Midwestern Singers on Dec. 3 at 3:00-5:00 p.m.
• Percussion Ensemble on Dec. 4 at 7:30 p.m.
• Music Department Faculty Recital on Dec. 7 at 7:30p.m.