Diane

Sturgeon Music 51B April 19, 2019

On April 12, 2019, the Cabrillo College Piano Department held its annual Classical,

Pop! recital at the Cabrillo College Recital Hall. The incredibly talented staff and

students of the piano department performed all of the pieces, and they all deserve

high praise for their spectacular performances.

The entire show was highly entertaining and educational. It featured eight separate

performances, which consisted of two songs per performance. Each performance

started with a classical song played on the piano and then followed with a modern

interpretation of the classical song just performed. While all of the classical pieces

were played on piano, vocalists sang each of the modern pieces, which were also

accompanied by piano. Here are some of the highlights of the show.

The third song of the concert was one of my favorites. Aryela Robello, vocals, and

Lavinia “88 Fingers” Livingston on piano, performed “Goin’ Home,” which is based

on Antonin Dvorak’s “Largo” from The New Word Symphony. Aryela’s soulful

rendition of “Goin’ Home” brought tears to my eyes. Aryela sang with such feeling

and incredible range; I felt transported to another place and time. It was such a

pleasure to experience.

But the vocalists only got better from there. Missy Lees and Josh Porter mesmerized

us with their interpretation of “Stranger in Paradise,” based on the classic

“Polovtsian Dance No. 1” by Alexander Borodin. Wright and Forrest originally

performed “Stranger in Paradise” in Knoblock’s play, Kismet; but the emotion that

Missy and Josh’s brought to the song definitely rivals the soundtrack of the original

version. Missy’s silky voice stole the show, while Andria Gordon played piano and

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Diane Sturgeon Music 51B April 19, 2019

Antony Bianchini and Keoki Thompson kept a smooth jazzy beat on upright bass

and drums respectively.

Brandon Damiani sang a lovely rendition of “Till the End of Time” with Kiefer Taylor

on piano. The song was originally performed by Perry Como in 1945. However, I

prefer Brandon’s voice, distinct and memorable for its deep, rich resonance. “Till the

End of Time” is based on Frederic Chopin’s Polonaise in A Flat op. 53 ‘Heroic,’ which

was performed by the fabulous Hannah Kang on piano. Her presentation of Chopin’s

classic was amazing.

But, by far, the best was definitely saved for last. The performance began with

department head, Susan Bruckner’s moving interpretation of Rachmaninoff’s

“Theme from Concerto #2-Allegro.” And, as if that weren’t compelling enough, Diego

Ibarra-Moody ended the show singing “Full Moon and Empty Arms,” which is based

on Rachmaninoff’s masterpiece, with Livingston tickling the ivory. Frank Sinatra

sang the original in 1945, and Bob Dylan also recorded the song in 2014; but the

energy of Ibarra-Moody and the ensemble, Bianchini and Thompson again on bass

and drums, was palpable and by far more engaging than the Sinatra and Dylan

versions.

I could go on endlessly. The choices of song pairs were varied, interesting, and

informative. The music spanned time from the classical period up to modern times

showing the clear relationships between the modern compositions and the classical

versions upon which they are based: from rock ‘n’ roll’s “Groovy Kind of Love” based

on Muzio Clementi’s “Rondo from Sonatina op. 36 #5” to Kenon Renfrow’s “Ragtime

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Diane Sturgeon Music 51B April 19, 2019

Arabesque” based on Friedrich Burgmuller’s “Arabesque op. 100 #2” and “If You Are

But a Dream,” based on Anton Rubenstein’s “Romance op. 44 #1.” The students and

staff of the Cabrillo College Piano Department put in the hard work, and it shows.

Their love and passion for their art is unmistakable.