The ‘Promenade Musicale’ reminds its audience of beauty and value in music 

On Sunday, Sept. 15 at 2 p.m., the School of Music and Performing Arts at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette hosted a free showcase concert titled, “Promenade Musicale.” Located at Angelle Hall, the concert consisted of performances from faculty and alumni. 

The program had eight performances throughout the nearly two-hour show. It began with a double piano performance of “Scaramouche” performed by Chan Kiat Lim and Dr. Chee Hyeon Choi. Next was the “Pale Blue Dot,” for horn, performed by Catherine Roche-Wallace. Her performance was accompanied by fixed media, showing footage of the solar system and animal life on earth. 

“Grave et Presto,” performed by Lafayette Saxophone Quartet, succeeded Roche-Wallace’s performance. The quartet included William Hochkeppel playing soprano, Alex Pipkins playing alto, Ben Bourg playing tenor and David Hochkeppel playing baritone. 

Chan Kiat Lim played piano again, but the next time was with Shawn Roy singing bass-baritone. They performed “September Song,” from Knickerbocker Holiday. Following them, a flute performance of “Yuhwa: The Goddess of the Yellow Trees” was done by prize-winning flutist Brienne Little. 

Next, were two poems for vibraphone and soprano, “As if Some Little Arctic Flower” and “Poem Without Words.” Dr. Kelly Ann Bixby sang soprano while Dr. Brett Landry provided the percussion. Following their performance was a performance by the UL Lafayette Traditional Music Ensemble. Gina Forsyth and Jane Vidrine performed three songs: “Creole Tune,” “Kaplan Waltz” and “Dan le Sud de la Louisiane.” An ode to the traditional music of Louisiana, their performance was a highlight of the concert. 

To end the concert, Dr. David Ashton, Dr. Darren Cueva, Dr. Paul Morton and Dr. Garth Alper performed two jazz selections. “When the Lights are Low” and “Sea Journey” provided an energetic conclusion to an impressive afternoon. 

In his 27th year, Dr. Morton, a professor of trumpet at UL Lafayette, described his love for music and the importance of supporting the arts. 

“Music is my life’s passion. I love performing and teaching others to perform and teach it; supporting the arts is totally important. The arts make our children good citizens. The arts identify us culturally. The arts make all lives more enriched.” 

Audience members echoed Morton’s sentiments about the importance of the arts. When asked if she believed supporting the arts was important, Ruth Casey, someone who always tries to come to UL Lafayette’s concerts, explained why she believed in its importance. 

“Absolutely. It’s the beauty of our life. It just makes the birds sing sweeter and the winds blow gentler.” 

Casey described her favorite part of the show as the saxophone quartet because she felt that she learned the most about that instrument. 

“I think I was most impressed with the saxophones because I feel like I really learned something about that. To see it performed in four different styles. That would be the one that really taught me the most.” 

Similarly Jenni Lawrie, another appreciator of UL Lafayette’s music program, explained why she thought the arts were important to fund. 

“Life has many facets. There’s lots of things to life. To be a well rounded person you need to understand what they are, and you need to enjoy them for what God has given us to enjoy.” 

Lawrie revealed her favorite part of the concert to be the traditional music and the jazz ensemble at the end of the show. 

“It was excellent today. I really enjoyed the traditional music. It was very well played. I thought it was very good because you don’t hear that in a traditional setting. The last part…the jazz. It was great. It was really well done.” 

Luke Walker, a freshman majoring in music, came to the concert to support his professors and because of his love for music. He described the many performances that stood out to him. 

“I liked the vibraphone and the singer duet. That was really good. The vibraphone sounded good with mallets. What he was playing sounded amazing. I really liked the jazz combo too. They were cooking. And the french horn. That was awesome too.” When asked why he thought it was important to support the arts, Walker described what the state of the world would be without it. 

“Yes, it’s very important. It gives the world a bit of color and without it, it would be very boring. Just having more stuff go on, more arts, more music, everywhere…that’s what we need to do. Supporting the arts is great.” 

Dr. Choi, director of the UL Lafayette Piano Institute, revealed that the School of Music and Performing Arts showcase concert might become an annual event and urged the community to continue to come and support. 

“I am excited about the School of Music showcase concert potentially becoming an annual event. This would allow more members of our community to enjoy the wonderful music right in their own neighborhood. It is also a great opportunity for our faculty members to collaborate and showcase what we do for our students and community.” 

Donations for the School of Music and Performing Arts at UL Lafayette can be given by donating through their sponsor, the Friends of Music Acadiana. 

Alternatively, they can be given through filling out UL Lafayette Foundation’s donation for and making note that the donation be directed to the School of Music and Performing Arts. 

The School of Music and Performing Arts has concerts throughout the school year, showcasing the talents of students, faculty and alumni. 

Their next event, Opera Créole, is Sept. 28, at 7:30 p.m., in Angelle Hall. It is free for UL Lafayette students and $43 for the general public.