Brianna Barnes reporter
Sept. 25 at 7 p.m., the fourth concert of the Hispanic Music Festival was put on at McCray Hall. Students including Ranson Phlieger, Carollyn Chapman, Priscila Zabaleta, Diego Escriva, Sara Flessner, Gabriela Mongelos, Logan Huser, Eliza Maxwell, and Chandler Goodman performed vocal and instrumental solos, as well as a vocal ensemble. Faculty Lori Kehle, Isaac Hernandez, and Brock Willard- Cheeseman, also performed and accompanied.
“Everyone was excellent and we’re so lucky here at PSU for our students. We have some really talented students who work so hard to make sure that their performances are exactly what they need to be. Overall, I was the only faculty who did any sort of solo performance. But I was so glad to share the stage with so many wonderful students,” said adjunct lecturer in music theory and voice, Brock Willard-Cheeseman.
As part of the Hispanic Music Festival, pieces originating from Spain, Mexico, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, and Argentina were performed. The program included “La Virgen De La Macarena,” “Lagrimas,” “El Joropo,” “Chiri Ko’e, Estrellita,” “Bliss,” “El Olvido,” “La Llorona,” “Ohio,” “No Longer You,” “Dos Orguitas,” “Te Quiero,” and “Son Los Artistas Equilibristas.”
“I am very happy about the festival so far, people have welcomed it in a very good way, and they leave the concert hall asking when the next one will be. I am so happy to be able to share our music with everyone,” said Isaac Hernandez, the adjunct lecturer in music, advisor to the Hispanics of Today student organization, and a main organizer for the Hispanic Music Festival.
The music selection performed was a mix of energetic, dynamic, expressive, and affectionate performances from Hispanic culture.
“It was amazing. I think it was a really great opportunity for everyone to come together and perform,” said Carollyn Chapman, a sophomore majoring in music education.
Mostly vocal and piano, there was one trumpet solo accompanied by piano to begin the night, done by Phlieger and Hernandez. Following were solos from Chapman, Zabaleta, Escriva, Flessner, Mongelos, and Willard- Cheeseman.
“I think a professor who used to teach here called the PSU music program the best secret in Kansas. The music community here is very vibrant,” said Willard- Cheeseman.
To end the night, the Hispanic Music Festival Vocal Ensemble performed with the soloist along with Maxwell, Goodman, and Huser.
“I loved the last choir piece (Son Los Artisas Equilbristas). It was gorgeous and the translation is so beautiful,” said Chapman.
The performers enjoyed the solo performances of the evening, as Willard-Cheeseman mentioned, “performing never gets old.” The audience’s loud applause after each solo highlighted how much they enjoyed the performances.
“I particularly liked Priscilla’s ‘La Llorona,’ a popular Mexican folk song. I think she did well. I also liked Sarah Flessner’s ‘Estrellita.’ She sang that very well; Sarah is just excellent. Overall, all the students just did so well,” said Willard-Cheeseman.
Three of the solos, done by Willard-Cheeseman, were musical theatre songs from “In Pieces,” “Epic,” and “Encanto.”
“It went well. Admittedly, the last song that I sang by myself, I started crying. Just a little bit teary eyed, it’s a very sad song,” said Willard-Cheeseman.
This Hispanic Music Festival has two more performances left: Oct. 2 with South American Serenade, and Oct. 9 with Ignacio Cornejo. This festival, likely the first for many, was very important to several people.
“Organizing this festival has been really rewarding, the festival has received a lot of support from different areas of the university, and that is meaningful to me. It’s been such a journey, and I am very happy that we’re able to share this music with everyone,” said Hernandez.