Music Students Find New Ways to Reach Our Ears

By Staff WriterFebruary 9, 2021
University of Bridgeport musicians and vocalists

Despite the pandemic’s significant restrictions on live music, the students and faculty of the Department of Music & Performing Arts continue to create and perform.

Senior recitals for Spring, Summer, and Fall 2020 were livestreamed from Littlefield Recital Hall, empty of all save the student, any collaborators, their studio teacher, and their immediate family. Guitarist Tyler Suarez (’20 BM, ’22 MS), vocalist Jessica Jean-Baptiste (’20 BM, ’21 MS), percussionist and jazz pianist Brenton Morrison (’21 BM), and singer-songwriter Virginia Semeghini (’20 BM) all gave strong performances, with more to come this spring.

Instrumental and vocal lessons moved to Zoom, while rehearsals were shortened and moved outside, or to the largest spaces possible. The department managed to present its 16th annual Holiday Concert via a video montage. Classes have taken a variety of forms. Students in Ian McDonald’s technical theater class this spring are focusing, in the absence of a spring play, on designing the set for a play. Students in Gary Ljungquist’s recording class recorded two class tracks and a number of individual projects (available for listening at UB’s Soundcloud page) in the University’s recording studio.

“The hive of activity this in these unprecedented times is a testament to the irrepressible character and musicality of our students,” says Frank Martignetti, Department Chair, “You would be hard pressed to find a more eclectic creative output from any collegiate music department, anywhere.” 


You can listen to these amazing performances below or on Soundcloud.

Soundcloud

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16th Annual UB Holiday Concert

16th Annual University of Bridgeport Holiday Concert

Ring in the season with UB's 16th Annual Holiday Concert! UB musicians and vocalists presented their annual holiday concert, a 45 minute program with audio and video recorded in Mertens Theater, outside Arnold Bernhard Arts & Humanities Center, and remotely. The program features the University Singers, Knights Ensemble, Fusion Ensemble, UB Percussion Group, and chamber music. Student performers are under the direction of professors Chris Coogan, Jeff Jones, Frank Martignetti, Mark Vickers, and Alexis Zingale, with recording and editing by Professor Ian McDonald. #UBridgeport

Posted by University of Bridgeport on December 4, 2020

Jessica Jean-Baptiste Senior Recital

Jessica Jean-Baptiste Senior Recital Posted by UB's Arnold Bernhard Center for the Arts & Humanities

Brenton Morrison Senior Recital

An Evening with Brenton Morrison Posted by UB's Arnold Bernhard Center for the Arts & Humanities

Tyler Suarez Senior Recital

"TIME" with Tyler Suarez Posted by UB's Arnold Bernhard Center for the Arts & Humanities

In late April, the music department will feature a virtual Spring Concert, which you can listen to over social media. Look for future updates and keep your ears ready.