Collegio Online

Issue date: 11/19/09 Section: After Hours

Media Credit: Aaron Anders

The Columbia Piano Trio, named after the Columbia River, filled McCray's recital hall with the sounds of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Frank Bridge and Felix Mendelssohn on Friday, Nov. 13.
The concert was the last of this semester's Solo and Chamber Music Series. Three more are planned for next semester, beginning in February.
The performance attracted about 250 people and received a standing ovation.
The three artists in the Columbia Piano Trio, Fritz Gearhart, violinist, Andrew Kolb, cellist, and David Riley, pianist, gave a master's class before the performance that was aimed at PSU's music students.
The musicians told the class that good musicians should feel the music they play.
"They're doing as they said," David Ayala, freshman in piano performance, said. "They're professionals and they're in the music. That's the difference."
The trio performed Mozart's "Piano Trio No. 6 in E, K. 542," Bridge's "Phantasie Piano Trio in C minor" and Mendelssohn's "Piano Trio in C minor, Op. 66."
While the concert was required for some of PSU's music students, class points aren't what attracted many of them to the auditorium.
"If I wasn't required to go, I would still go anyway," Megan Wood, sophomore in vocal music education, said. "I'm a big fan of Mozart and Mendelssohn. I just enjoy the music. I relax and let go."
Jeremy Smith, sophomore in music performance, says he was jealous of the trio's skill.
"I can't play that well," Smith said. "It sounds like a lot of what we played in my high school. It brought back a lot of memories and the flames of my passion for music."
Kayla Bush, freshman in music education, says she found the performance to be a good learning opportunity, and says the concert left her speechless.
"Half the time, I concentrated on their technique," Bush said. "And the other half, I would imagine what was influencing the composer."
The concert attracted more than just music majors.
Sallena Samuel, freshman in political science, says she found the music relaxing.
"It's a good way to calm down after a hectic week," Samuel said. "It reminds me of the beauty of Earth and life. It puts everything into perspective."
One PSU graduate student, Gregory Campbell, who majored in viola performance, says the Columbia Piano Trio gave an exceptional performance.
"Their performance was executed with technical precision," Campbell said. "Pittsburg should be honored to have such fine musicians."
The Columbia Piano Trio heard several of these student accolades and the violinist, Gearhart, said this is one reason musicians play.
"There could be no better response," Gearhart said.

The 2010 Solo and Chamber Music series will feature Chamber Orchestra Kremlin (a Russian ensemble) on Feb. 10, Imani Winds (a genre-blurring wind quintet playing on European, African, Latin and American traditions) on March 23, and award-winning Canadian pianist Richard Raymond on April 20. Call the PSU Department of Music at 235-4466 for more information.

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