A very satisfying musical experience
Today was our annual Gino DiMario Memorial Recital. Gino was a young student of ours who died several years ago. He loved music – he was bright, excited, creative, and eager to play. We will never know how this bright star might have achieved in music. We give out several scholarships in his name each year, awarding them to students who best reflect those attributes of Gino: enthusiasm, commitment, creativity and joy of playing. At our annual fundraising recital we had 40+ students who paid for the privilege of performing on this recital. It is held in a beautiful concert hall at our school, one normally reserved for faculty and doctoral recitals. It’s a very special recital.
Trust me, I know all about programming recitals and how it should not be longer than an hour. We’ve tried, but with so many students wanting to play the recital ends up at two hours, with no intermission. But most stay and support all the students. The young 4 and 5 years play near the beginning, some pieces shorter than the time it takes to walk onto the stage. Since it’s near Halloween, many students wear costumes. A five year old bear played an amazing gigue by Bach, far more intricate than a five year old should be able to play. And it’s a little fuzzy bear playing!
The concert continues with the students getting older, performing more difficult and longer pieces. I love how the little ones sit in their seats and learn the important value of listening as well as playing. Sure, there are some mishaps and breakdowns, but every student and parent is rooting for every performer. There is no sense of competition and judging, but a spirit of “we want to be here and make music for others.” I leave the concert with a real sense of satisfaction, knowing that these kinds of performances are what matters most to all of us, parents, faculty, administrators and students. Music making because one cares.
