Three sopranos and a pianist play Rosch

Notes cascaded like water onto the receptive audience at Rosch Recital Hall last Sunday.  The  School of Music presented Three Sopranos and a Pianist, part of its scholarship series of concerts.

The eponymous three singers have connections to SUNY Fredonia, as was noted by them before the concert.  Luanne Clark Crosby earned both Bachelor's and Master's degrees from the School of Music.  She has performed professionally for numerous orchestras and operas, including the Cleveland Opera, Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes and the Fredonia Chamber Players.  Crosby is also active in academia, with stops at Case Western Reserve and Heidelberg College in Ohio.

Christina Walters McMasters taught at Fredonia for a decade.  McMasters notably earned the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching in 1990.  Like Crosby, McMaster's resume is dotted with numerous professional singing stops.  She made her debut with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, and has had numerous roles in operas ranging from La Boheme to Carmen.  Her international work includes performances in Osaka Japan and the Boloshi Theater in Russia.

Joining McMasters and Crosby is current Fredonia faculty member Laurie Tramuta.  Tramuta earned her Bachelor's degree at SUNY Fredonia before receiving her Master of Music diploma from UNC Greensboro.  She is a full time teacher in the Fredonia school district.

The sopranos were accompanied by pianist Adam Potter.  Potter resides in Danville and is the Director of Vocal Music at Dansville Senior High School.  The trio, along with Potter, were able to create a unique style of music that dabbled in a variety of songs from around the world.

Mezzo soprano Tramuta had the first solo set of the concert.  Her lower, powerful voice off set the more delicate, reed like tones of her peers.   Of the three, Crosby seemed most in charge.  Her performances commanded rapt attention, with applause being forcedly held back during her bows between songs.  

A highlight was the performance of Triumph! from Die Zauberflote.  The three ladies humorously interacted with the stoic Potter as he diligently played his piano.  The flirtation and competition provided a showcase for the singer's acting skills.  German words that would have had no meaning sans stage presence became a lucid idea.  The true power of performance bridging a language and perhaps even an understanding gap was put on display in a highly accessible way.

The performance was free and open to the public and is the first of many sows that will be featured by the School of Music.