Photo by Yinon Xiong ‘16|The Lafayette

On the first Wednesday of each month, members of the Lafayette community have the opportunity to preview some of Lafayette’s most talented musicians through the First Wednesday Concert Series.

While professional concerts are offered in formal settings, this series supports a relaxed approach to being an audience member. While enjoying lunch, audiences may experience instrumental and vocal performances by talented Lafayette students and staff.

This past Wednesday was the first concert of the series and produced a light turnout of about ten audience members and only two performers. Department Head of Music Larry Stockton said that the first Wednesday of the series is not usually a packed event with back-to-back performances. There were, however, pieces performed by student Michael Robinson ‘15 and Associate Professor of Music and Director of Marquis Consort, Professor Jorge Torres.

Professor Torres is a musicologist and guitarist. He began the afternoon’s performances with a guitar piece from Sylvius Leopold Weiss entitled Tombeau sur la mort de M. Comte de Logy. A “tombeau” (deriving from the French word for “tomb”) is a musical piece that honors the death of someone significant. The piece possessed a solemn tone, and Professor Torres skillfully played the emotion throughout the piece.

Following Torres was Robinson, a student who has been playing the saxophone for 11 years. While the concert was prefaced with the fact that these performances are simply works in progress, no audience member would have noticed that Robinson’s piece has not yet been perfected. He played Johann Sebastian Bach’s piece Cello Suite No. 3- Courante with an arrangement by Trent Kynasten. His execution was almost flawless and quite impressive. Robinson is heavily involved in the music community on campus and is an active member of the Concert Band and the Marquis Consort.

The First Wednesday Concert Series offers a unique opportunity for musicians, music enthusiasts, and members of the community to perform in a laid back environment. Throughout the school year, professors, students, and ensembles will continue to share their new musical works.