We had our annual Studio Recital last week. It is a substitute for the more conventional juries which are required of all students not playing recitals. Instead, I have them present their semester’s work in performance. The program is informal, but we take it quite seriously, as final grades result from it. But the student’s friends (and sometimes, family) come to cheer them on and it is always a cheerful, convivial atmosphere. My studio of nine had only one who played a recital this semester (Josefina Stone); therefore, the remaining eight were featured in the Studio Recital. It took two evenings. Here is a rundown of the performances in the order they occurred. (Full programs are at the end of the post).

First up was freshman, Thomas Stafford. For his first solo outing at Oberlin, he played sections of a variations set by Giuliani, a Villa Lobos Prelude and three movements of Pujol’s Suite del Plata. He played with impressive confidence.

Second was Damian Goggans, now a senior. He presented works from his special project on guitar music by Black composers, plus a work by Bach. The featured composers were Justin Holland, Thomas Flippin and Frantz Casseus. Damian played with notable presence and musical nuance.

Next up was sophomore, Sam Schollenberger. Sam had prepared much more music than we had time for in this shared forum, so he had to make choices. In the end, he left his Bach Fugue and the entire Morel Sonatina on the table and played only the Gigue and Double from his current Lute Suite plus Brouwer’s El Decameron Negro. He played with admirable control and musical sensibility.

Finally, to close out our first evening, we heard sophomore, Solis Dornan. Solis played a vihuela piece by da Milano, Aguado’s Introduction & Rondo Brilliante, and two works by Rodrigo—a Prelude and the remarkable Un Tiempo Due Italica Famosa. Solis handled the technical challenges in this music with extraordinary command. In addition, he played with compelling musical shaping and expression.

To open our second evening, senior Rio Manzanares played most of Villa Lobos’ Suite Populaire Bresillene. He played this music clearly and with obvious affection.

Next up was freshman Caden Basile. For Caden’s first solo performance, he programmed works of Bach, Giuliani, Mertz, and Merlin. Caden played with the confidence of an experienced performer, seeming totally at ease and conveying a mature musicality.

Aleksandr Lapshin, a junior, performed next. He programmed Bach’s Prelude, Fugue and Allegro and the remarkable Troika Variations of Orekhov. This variations set has some of the most challenging material in it I’ve seen in a guitar piece. Aleks played it with impressive control and poetic nuance, earning a raucous response from the audience.

Our final performer in this two-day marathon of student performances was junior, Grigor Ylli. Grigor played four movements of Bach’s first Violin Partita and the seldom-heard Aire Vasco of Manjón. The Bach landed with impressive clarity and control, while the Manjón sang rhapsodically as Grigor demonstrated his beautiful tone and phrasing.

Thanks, everyone, for a terrific presentation of excellent music. I was very proud indeed!! And now, happy holidays, all around!