By Peyton Voorheis
Staff Writer
Classical music filled the Gentile Gallery as the director of Franciscan University’s new Chamber Orchestra performed with three of his fellow musicians from the Cleveland Orchestra on April 3 at 6 p.m.
Dozens of students, staff and families came to see Stanley Konopka and his three colleagues perform.
The gallery was filled with rows of chairs and the lights were dimmed with a spotlight on the stage to set the mood for the performance.
Members of the orchestra introduced each piece by telling the audience about the piece itself and background information on the composer. The musicians performed Franz Schubert’s “String Quartet in C Minor” as well as four movements of Alexander Borodin’s “String Quartet No. 2 in D Major.”
At the end of the final movement, the audience gave the performers a round of applause and a standing ovation.
The quartet then performed an encore: Ray Chen’s “A New Satiesfaction,” which was inspired by Erik Satie’s “Gymnopedie No. 1.” This led to another round of applause and a second standing ovation.
Sr. Mary Bosco, FSPA, said of the crowd that attended the performance, “It’s so neat having so many families come.”
“It’s such a gift to have an arts and culture series that we get to experience such beauty,” added Sr. Mary Amata, FSPA.
Sam Salyer, a senior theology major and a violinist said, “This is where my theology side comes out; this just pointed to something beautiful that no other creation could create.”
This event was a part of the Monday Night Arts and Culture Series.