Ciara Benham
Staff writer
cbenham@murraystate.edu
Photo by Richard Thompson/The News
The brass of her saxophone may have been shining, but Ashley Andrade was the real star of her recital.
On Sunday, Andrade performed her senior recital as a part of her Music Education degree. Andrade performed four pieces on the soprano and alto saxophones, accompanied by Meeyoun Park on the piano.
Senior recitals are a degree requirement for music majors that take place the semester of their graduation. These recitals are used to showcase the repertoire of music worked on in the student’s private lessons.
Andrade started playing saxophone her sophomore year of high school.
“I chose to be a music major because I want to be surrounded by music for the rest of my life,” Andrade said. “Music has given me a place to escape to. I feel like I can express myself freely with music.”
In fall 2015, Andrade came to Murray State and began working with her private instructor, Scott Erickson.
Erickson said Andrade has always been a serious student who is willing to work hard and put in the necessary time to succeed.
“Ashley has been a joy to work with,” Erickson said. “She has always been pleasant and respectful, and very honest.”
Erickson also said Andrade has made a lot of progress both in and outside of music.
“Her musical growth has been matched by her growth as a human being,” Erickson said. “Growing up and maturing into a young adult is much like growing as a musician. There are always bumps along the way with times of success and triumph, and times of self doubt and frustration.”
Since winter break, Andrade has been preparing for her performance by gathering, listening to and playing the pieces she chose for her recital.
Each recital has a 50 minute time requirement, so they are often shared with another musician to fill the time. Andrade’s music came out to 38 minutes, so her friend Anna Shaust shared the stage with her to perform two pieces on the horn.
Andrade played Giovanni Platti’s “Sonata in G Major,” Claude Debussy’s “Rhapsody,” Pierre Max Dubois’ “Le lièvre et la torture” and Alexander Glazunov’s “Concerto in E Flat Major.”
The audience was astonished by Andrade’s performance, and many of her family members and friends showed up to support her.
Mary Midkiff, a senior from Murray, praised Andrade’s performance and growth.
“Ashley has worked really hard over the past four years,” Midkiff said. “We’ve been friends since freshman year, and it’s awesome to see how much she has grown. It was a very impressive recital.”
Erickson also said Andrade had a great performance.
“One piece was the best she had ever performed it, and that doesn’t always happen in a live performance,” Erickson said.
Andrade credited her success to Murray State University, her friends and her family. Andrade said Murray State provided her with some of the best faculty and courses around, and made her into the musician she is today.
“I want to thank my mom and dad for being my biggest supporters,” Andrade said. “I wouldn’t be here if it was not for them. I would also like to thank my private saxophone instructor, Scott Erickson, and my accompanist and teacher, Meeyoun Park. I have learned so many things from them that I will carry with me after I graduate.”
She will graduate in May with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education, and Erickson said she will be greatly missed at Murray State.