Melodies resonated through the walls of Van Meter Hall as WKU’s Department of Music performed its 29th annual PRISM concert on Jan. 24 at 8 p.m.
The concert featured 24 total performances, ranging from the WKU Wind Ensemble, the WKU Trumpet Ensemble, the WKU Redshirts, a men’s acapella group, and more. Artist, educator and author Dr. Melissa Keeling also performed and composed a flute solo act for the concert. Different colorful lighting sequences accompanied each performance.
Jessie Welsh, a piano professor at WKU, said this was her second year performing in the PRISM concert. She said the concert’s theme was a kaleidoscope of all the different things the WKU Department of Music offers.
“It’s really showcasing the great talent we have here,” Welsh said.
Welsh performed with the WKU Piano Studio in a piece titled “Carnival of the Animals: Finale for Two Pianos and 12 Hands” during the concert. She said that in the piano program’s performance for last year’s PRISM, only the faculty from the piano program were included. This year, the piano students collaborated with professors to put together an ensemble of six people in total.
“I love to make music with others,” Welsh said. “Sometimes the piano is a real solo instrument, so getting to collaborate to do this piano ensemble is a real treat.”
Freshman music education major Connor Kizziar from Glasgow is a member of the WKU Steel Band. He said the piece that the WKU Steel Band performed for the concert was a piece that the band had played previously for their percussion ensemble concert.
“We all really liked it,” Kizziar said. “That was probably our favorite piece, so Dr. Barry decided that we were gonna do it for the concert.”
Kizziar said that in the beginning, rehearsals for the show before winter break were hectic as members figured out placement for the instruments and other equipment. He said that once they established the order, everyone began to flow together.
“It’s awesome because you’re with people that you’re used to being with,” Kizziar said. “You’re already kind of comfortable going in.”
The Steel Band performed “Toure Kunda” arranged by Eugene Novotney, and threw beach balls into the crowd as they performed. The crowd then tossed the beach balls back and forth to each other in the auditorium.
Other performances in the concert included a rendition of Amy Winehouse’s version of “Valerie” performed by the WKU Redshirts. Additionally, a euphonium and tuba cover of Chappel Roan’s “Good Luck, Babe” was performed by the WKU Tuba/Euphonium Ensemble.
Jo Carol Ford, a retired middle school teacher from Woodburn, KY, attended the concert with her husband. She is a WKU alumnus from the class of ‘75 who said that they’ve attended before and still love to support the WKU students. She said her favorite part was the mixture of different music styles.
“It’s magnificent,” Ford said. “You get to see all the pieces of the university band, from jazz to the woodwinds, and we just love it.”
Band students from surrounding schools in Bowling Green attending the 44th annual WKU Honors Band Clinics, where they rehearsed and later performed a piece for the Honors Band Concert, got a free ticket to the PRISM concert.
Parker Evans, a senior music education major from Bowling Green, said that he remembered attending the PRISM concert when he was in middle school and high school.
“I was in the Honors Band, just as these kids were,” Evans said. “It’s kind of a tradition and this big event for the kids, and they look forward to it.”
Evans also said that the different lights for each performance highlighted the individuality of each performance, and enhanced the experience. He said that if an upbeat song was playing, the lights would spin faster. With a slow piece, the lights would stay still.
“I think it all comes together for a great experience,” Evans said.
Audience member Lauren Calhoun from Owensboro said that she attended the concert to see her son, Jack, a percussionist who plays in the WKU Wind Ensemble and the WKU Steel Band. It was her first time attending.
“The way they incorporated more serious and traditional pieces alongside more contemporary pieces just made it really cool,” Calhoun said. “The eclectic nature and diversity was my favorite aspect.”
Evans said that the overall meaning of the concert is what makes it interesting to watch.
“I think the PRISM concert represents everything there is in the blanket term of music,” Evans said.