Andrew Shi

On Wednesday evening, the Bowdoin music department presented its showcase spotlighting  student ensembles and performance groups. Students and members of the Brunswick community gathered in Studzinski Hall for an hour-long performance featuring the Chamber Choir, Symphony Orchestra, Electro-Acoustic Ensemble, South Asian Performing Arts Ensemble, Jazz Combos group and the Tabla Duo.

The performance was unique, as it showcased all of the major student music groups, which is not typical of Bowdoin’s music recitals, according to Director of Choral Activities and Lecturer in Music Kari Francis.

“I’ve never seen all of our ensembles in one place,” Francis said. “This was a really awesome way to show folks in one go, as opposed to going to separate concerts, all the wonderful flavors of ensembles that we have.”

The performance began with an unconventional entrance from the Chamber Choir, which began singing hidden from view on the auditorium’s second floor before walking onto the stage. Though the execution was seamless, it required a great deal of mental focus on the part of the choir as students sang behind walls, unable to see the conductor.

“We really had to listen to the other half of the choir—if they’re on, if they’re in sync with us and also to the folks who could actually see the conductor…. It forced me to listen a lot more closely,” Sree Kandhadai ’27, a member of the Chamber Choir, said.

The show continued with a performance by the South Asian Performing Arts Ensemble of a piece featuring combined vocal, violin and piano parts. The Bowdoin Electro-Acoustic Ensemble played next, featuring an original composition by Jack Stoland ’28 that combined computer and keyboard sounds with whistling, breathing and singing. Groups like the Electro-Acoustic Ensemble are unique to Bowdoin and sit at the frontier of this novel genre.

“All the music [is] created directly by the students, which is so cool because essentially there is not a canon…. [Electro-Acoustic Ensemble] is such a fresh medium and type of group that is still so new that it’s kind of the Wild West,” Francis said.

The next performance was by the Tabla Duo, featuring two students playing the tabla. They were followed by a three-person Jazz Combos group, including a vocalist, guitarist and drummer. The showcase ended with the Symphony Orchestra performance directed by George Lopez.

For student performers, the showcase was a great way to share music across ensemble groups that would otherwise not overlap.

“To me, it was mainly like I wanted some of my friends in the other ensembles to just see us perform a couple of cool things,” Kandhadai said.

Even non-musicians could enjoy the collection of performances.

“I am not personally involved [with music], but I think that makes me like going to the music shows even more because I’m not a musical person,” audience member Beatrice French ’28 said. “I find myself drawn to see just how talented all the students are and the hard work they put into their niche.”

Francis hoped that audience members would leave the showcase inspired to bring music into their own lives.

“I hope folks walk away realizing how closely connected they already are to everything they see in the showcase, and I hope that inspires them to do something musical,” Francis said. “Whether it’s joining a group, or making a group, or even just making a friend in a group and going to their concerts, I think that would be my ultimate hope.”

The Music Department Showcase was just a small taste of Bowdoin’s music department. Beyond joining ensemble groups, Francis encouraged students to consider engaging with music on campus.

“Please realize that this is a thing that you have access to, and hopefully, you walk away thinking, ‘Man, it’s so cool that we’ve got all that here,’” Francis said. “Hopefully, the next step is, ‘I wonder how I can make that part of my schedule.’”