In the music department, senior musicians are given the opportunity to show their growth and achievements off to both the Wittenberg and Springfield communities in what is known on campus as a Senior Recital. Soprano vocalist Mackenzie Musgrave, ‘17, took her spot under the lime-light on the evening of Nov. 12 with staff accompanist Diane Slagle in Krieg Recital Hall.
She performed a number of pieces in a series of sets, starting off with George Frideric Handel’s “Ombra mai fu” and Giovanni Paisiello’s “Nel cor oiu non mi sento.”
The next set was driven forward with Edith Piaf’s “La Vie en Rose” and three pieces by Gabriel Fauré by the titles “Adieu,” “Les Berceaux” and “Le Secret.”
To follow, Musgrave continued to hold the audience’s attention as more sweet words floated from her lips with “The Salley Gardens,” arranged by Benjamin Britten; “Swing Low” and “Sweet Chariot,” arranged by H.T. Burleigh; “Danny Boy,” arranged by Frederic Weatherly; and she then brought this set home with another piece arranged by Britten by the name of “O Waly, Waly.”
Her fourth set was a compilation of Johannes Brahms’ “Wie Melodien zieht es mir,” Robert Schumann’s “Du bist wie eine blume” and two pieces labeled “Wanderers Nachtlied I and II” by Franz Schubert. Musgrave explained her recital selection, stating that she chose the pieces that she connected with the most over her last three years in voice lessons.
“I wanted ones that I knew I could sing beautifully and could also connect emotionally with,” Musgrave said.
She wrapped up the concert taking a seat on a stool, armed with her voice and an acoustic guitar, performing her original song, “Lonely.”
Although Musgrave doesn’t have any set plans on a job after graduation, she shared dreams about life after graduation.
Musgrave plans to “move to a big city, hopefully get a job working with kids and teens and staying creative through art and music.”
As mentioned in her program, Musgrave is very thankful to the faculty of the music department, as well as the rest of her Wittenberg family, for nurturing her love of music – for loving her and “in the process, teaching me how to love myself” through her years at Witt. She gave a special shout-out to her vocal instructor, William Mattox, and staff accompanist Slagle for all the guidance and direction they provided in her years on campus.
“I wouldn’t be the vocalist I am without them,” Musgrave said.
