Baptiste Arnaud has performed many times in Setnor Auditorium. But Friday, he and his clarinet trio will have their first chance to perform on a larger stage — in New York City.

Arnaud, a graduate student in clarinet performance, is one of eight Syracuse University students who will perform among faculty members at ‘A Setnor Sample’ at 8 p.m. in the Tenri Cultural Institution in New York City. The program will feature an eclectic array of contemporary and classical works and an original composition by Bill Dicosimo, chair of the music industry program.

The event marks the first university-sponsored performance in New York City since the Billy Joel Fellowship Composers Concert in 2008,said Andrew Waggoner, co-director of the Setnor School of Music. The performance, free and open to the public, will not only generate funding for the school but also provide a rare and valuable opportunity for both students and faculty members to step out of the university setting.

‘It will give them a chance to perform at a major venue in New York, which is something that’s difficult to do on one’s own,’ Waggoner said. ‘And that will help bring visibility and notoriety to the school.‘

The concert is funded by the Gilbert Incentive Fund for Music, an annual donation made by SU alumnus Dennis Gilbert. After extending invitations to Setnor alumni living in and around the city, about 70 alumni accepted, Waggoner said.

‘The response has been overwhelming,’ he said. ‘We are going to pack the place. In fact, we may end up with standing room only.‘

The event will especially benefit students who want to pursue music as a profession, Waggoner said.

‘It will get them in front of people they need to be in touch with in order to begin establishing their careers,’ he said.

For graduate student Jillian Bushnell, who will play French composer Jacques Ibert’s ‘Trois Pièces Brèves’with her wind quintet, the event is not only a professional opportunity but also an educational one, she said, as it will give her the chance to see some of her professors perform.

‘You learn from them in a different way than them speaking to you,’ said Bushnell, a bassoon and music education major. ‘To watch them do what they teach is cool.’

The concert is equally beneficial for the faculty members, said Fred Karpoff, co-chair of the keyboard department. Setnor faculty members embrace and promote the idea of their students as emerging colleagues and peers, he said. He will be performing three vocal works by Strauss with part-time voice instructor Bridget Moriarty, a 2008 graduate he taught for two years.

‘I remember saying that when she graduated, I looked forward to when we could work together as professionals,’ Karpoff said.

He said opportunities like these strengthen the relationship of the students and their professors, as well as enhancing their overall appreciation for the craft. He hopes Friday’s event will be the starting point for future concerts.

‘It’s a dynamic way to pursue music and also a great way to mentor students,’ he said. ‘It gives us high-quality opportunities to collaborate with each other. It’s a win-win situation.’ 

Kkim40@syr.edu

Published on January 26, 2011 at 12:00 pm