The MU School of Music held their Fall Sampler Concert with free admission for the general public on Sept. 24. The show featured the MU Brass Choir, Mizzoons, MU Cello Choir, MU Jazz Combo, Tiger Steel Pans and MU Flute Ensemble along with vocal and piano soloists. Audience members and performers were fascinated by the piece Professor Alice D. Dade chose for the MU Flute Ensemble.
Osman Noueiry, a freshman in the MU Flute Ensemble, feels the piece executed at the show was diligently practiced by the group and as a result, the performance had an impact on the audience. He also believes the unique sound of the piece was another factor in contributing to the audience’s reaction.
“At each one of our flute studio sessions this year, we’ve rehearsed that one piece that we performed tonight known as Railroaded,” Noueiry said. “So, for anyone that heard it, it’s a lot of extended technique. It’s not necessarily a nice traditional sounding piece written for a flute choir. It sounds interesting and I think it’s opening up different ways to make music on a flute. The audience definitely found this piece interesting and I think in a good way.”
Noueiry gives recognition to his professor, whom he feels deserves credit for the ensemble’s diverse performance.
“Our flute professor who chose the piece is amazing as well,” Noueiry said. “She has amazing control over the instrument, and she has a very intuitive way of fixing problems and teaching.”
Noueiry appreciates both practicing and performing, while also noticing that these are two different ways he embraces playing music.
“Rehearsal is not a time for people to practice individual parts, but rather it’s a time for people to put all of their practiced individual parts together and work on ensemble stuff versus just solo stuff,” Noueiry said. “So, the difference between that and performing on stage is that you go from repeating specific sections to playing the entire thing in one go. So, being on stage is always exhilarating and the intensity is a good feeling for me personally.”
Ashley Chambers, a freshman member of the MU Flute Ensemble, holds a different perspective in regard to performing versus practicing.
“Personally, I don’t think there’s much of a difference playing with or without an audience because you’re supposed to practice how you perform,” Chambers said. “If you don’t practice how you perform, then you don’t perform as well as you should. But it is a little bit more nerve-wracking because a lot of people tend to go faster when we’re performing versus when we’re practicing.”
Chambers enjoys being a part of the MU Flute Ensemble. She attributes this positive experience not only to her love of performing at the Fall Sampler Concert but also to the quality time spent with her group outside of shows.
“I enjoy hanging out with the section because it’s a really close group,” Chambers said. “It’s really fun having that experience even outside of performing because the community is what makes Mizzou feel like home. As somebody who has only been here for five weeks, I already feel like I have a family here.”
MU Flute Ensemble students are appreciative of their musical experience on campus both on and off the stage. The Fall Sampler Concert only added to students’ high regard for playing the flute.
_Edited by Alexandra Sharp | asharp@themaneater.com_