Senior recital starts rough, finishes smooth

Kellie Bowen, Staff Writer

The first thing people do while waiting for the concert to begin is flip through the program. Right away it is clear that the performer is versatile in the clarinet family.

Quillan Bourassa, ’16, played on the bass clarinet, the E flat clarinet and the traditional clarinet. Unfortunately, Bourassa had some technical difficulties with his bass clarinet on the first song, “Flowers of St. Francis” by Daniel Dorff.

Bourassa went back stage to fix the problem. However, the clarinet went out a second time in the second movement of the first song. The technicality was a loose screw. After going backstage to try to fix his instrument a second time, he finished the first song with the last two movements.

The second song, “Sonata for Clarinet and Bassoon” by Francis Poulenc, was a three movement piece. Jasmine Libert accompanied Bourassa on the bassoon. It started light and merry, went to a smooth legato, and ended with a lively, mysterious tune.

“White Bird” by Gabriel Jackson was played on the E flat clarinet. Susan McDaniel accompanied Bourassa on the piano. The E flat clarinet gave off a shrill tone to resemble the bird depicted in the song.

Cellist Anna Vanderschaegen, ’18, joined Bourassa and McDaniel in the next song, “Fantasy Trio” by Robert Muczynski. The cello added a dark tone to the song.

The final song was a bubbly, four-movement number on the clarinet and the piano. “Cooked” by Kenji Bunch explored the taste buds of sound.

The contemporary songs Bourassa chose made for a modern and classy senior recital.