Talented Music Faculty Perform in Recital

Guitar teacher Mick Dennis and his son Jazz Dennis opened the recital with a guitar duet of the song Black Orpheus. Next, flute teacher Agatha Wang performed Regrets and Resolutions while accompanied by Jane Pilch on piano. Department Chair and Director of Instrumental Music at Grier, Barbara Neumuller performed two original pieces on piano, titled The Last Thing You Said and Forgiveness. Saxophone teacher Adam Miller followed, playing Sonata, mov.1 while accompanied by Agatha Wang on piano. Director of Vocal Music, Ginger Reinhardt performed No Reason at All with Mrs. Wang’s accompaniment. Paul Kim performed Bach’s Cello Suite #1, Prelude. Then, voice teacher Julia Natoli sang Will He Love Me? with Agatha Wang on piano. The violin duo Revamped, composed of spouses Mark and Sally Minnich, closed the recital with their innovative arrangements of Scarborough Fair and The House of the Rising Sun. The recital gave students an opportunity to see their teachers in a different light, while the teachers enjoyed sharing their gifts and talents with the students.

 

Many of the music teachers have upcoming performances or releases. For instance, voice teacher soprano Julia Natoli will be performing her Professional Performance Certificate Recital at Penn State on December 1, 2018 at 7:30pm. Violin teacher Mark Minnich and his wife Sally Williams Minnich perform together as Revamped, a very innovative violin duo, and in the Williamsport Symphony Orchestra. Revamped has two albums available now and have an upcoming performance at State College’s First Night New Year’s Eve celebration. Barb Neumuller's band Archie Blue will also perform at the First Night event. Mick Dennis performs with his son Jazz in the MJD Music Project. Outside of Grier, Jane Pilch is involved with local theatre, especially with the Iron Bridge Dinner Theatre for which she performs and directs. Agatha Wang provides accompaniment to many Penn State musicians and directs the Nittany Valley Symphony Youth Flute Choir, which will perform at the Bellefonte Victorian Christmas on Saturday December 8 at 3:00. She will also be part of Penn State's Flute Day on January 13, 2019, giving a workshop on breathing techniques for wind players. Although not performing in this recital, Grier guitar and bass teacher Greg Folsom and Grier drum teacher Jordan Thompson are part of the popular East-coast band My Hero Zero. Though well-known for their audience-delighting covers and entertaining renditions of the hottest pop songs, My Hero Zero is releasing their first album of original music. To kick-off the album’s release, the band will be performing at a ticketed event at the State Theatre on March 23, 2019.

Music instructors at Grier are high quality instructors with professional experience. Grier understands the benefits of music education and offers extensive opportunities for all students to participate. Students can enroll in music courses, take private lessons, and join performing ensembles. Grier music students are certainly fortunate to have these talented musicians as teachers and mentors.


Learn more about Music at Grier.