Exonian Musicians Reflect on Fall Term Concerts
By ETHAN DING, ERIN HAN, BELLA JIN, and FORREST ZENG
This fall term, Exonians have participated enthusiastically in the flourishing music scene on campus.
Every year, when seniors graduate and new students enter, the musical scene at Exeter shifts. Exonians see novel performances in concerts such as the recent Exeter Association of Rock (EAR) Concert and the recent student showcase. In addition to these events, the Music Department has been hosting workshops with famous artists, such as Julian Lage, a renowned American guitarist and composer.
Exonians participate in the many music ensembles on campus. Whether it be orchestra, chamber music, choir, jazz, or rock, Exonians identify themselves with the music that they make.
For senior Nupur Malhotra who is a member of the Concert Choir, music has been a constant source of enjoyment during her time at Exeter. She has taken voice lessons, and has been singing with the choir since her prep year.
“I started singing when I was kid, and since then it’s always been something that I’ve loved. When I arrived at Exeter, I immediately knew that I wanted to continue singing here,” Malhotra said. “In the begining, I was really interested in trying out other kinds of music as well. I decided to take guitar lessons for a year, and when I discovered that I really enjoyed singing and that I wanted to focus on it more, I switched to voice lessons. I think the way that music is offered at Exeter really broadened my horizons and helped me figure out what I was most passionate about.”
Singing is special to Malhotra for a variety of reasons. One of which, she says, is how it offers her a time to catch her breath when things get busy. “Something quite prevalent at Exeter is just how exhausted people are. We’re overworked and overwhelmed and music can be a source of energy for a lot of people,” Malhotra said. “For me, singing in choir is a time when I can relax and recharge. A lot of people who I sing with come into that space just being so tired, sometimes either coming from a test, or having to go to a test afterwards. We’re also physically exhausted from having to run from one corner of campus to another. Choir has been such a lovely place with so many great people. With singing, we can connect with each other in a way that’s so different from how we would at any other place on campus.”
The Concert Choir goes on tour every two years, and Malhotra fondly remembers her experience on tour to Puerto Rico last spring. “One really special experience I’ve had with the Choir was when we went on tour. Tour being a time and place specifically dedicated to making music meant that I was in an environment with Exonians, but without the stresses of Exeter,” Malhotra said. “Making music together there, I saw whole other sides of these brilliant, talented people; they could just be themselves. We put our whole selves into our music making, and the result was a very successful tour.”
Upper Hemani Stallard also sings in the Concert Choir, and she agreed that singing provides a chance to catch her breath during the day. “I enjoy participating in my ensemble because I feel that in our packed schedules everyday, it’s really nice to have an hour dedicated just to singing,” Stallard said. “It’s also a lot of fun to be around students that enjoy singing just as much as I do. As opposed to being stressed about grades and tests, we can have fun and be relaxed in choir, which is something I really appreciate.”
Lower Tristan Price has also been involved with music since he was very young, and on campus he plays in the Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, and plays in various chamber music groups. “When I came to Exeter, I wanted to join the orchestras because I wanted the experience of making music with other people. I’ve gotten to know a lot of people really well through orchestra, and I’ve made a lot of friends by making music with them. I really enjoy playing music with a community of people that also like music, and orchestra is the place to do that,” Price said.
For Price, every rehearsal comes with a memorable moment. Price believes that even small things can go a great length when it comes to having fun during the day. “I always think it’s funny when our conductor will drop the baton, or snap at us to quiet down, or other little things like that. There are also times when I’ll be having a good time with my section in the orchestra. One time when I was playing with another one of the percussionists, we decided to switch instruments which was fun,” Price said. “Making these memories really comes down to being a part of this community and making great music together.”
On Oct. 21, the Exeter Association of Rock (EAR) hosted an indoor concert that was well received by students.
“We started planning in September. Our concerts typically follow a similar planning to our outreach on club night,” senior and EAR co-head Ayaan Akhtar said. “We had a lot of new people sign up, and we did auditions.”
Will Simpson, another senior and EAR co-head, explained the planning process similarly, “The majority of the planning fell into two camps — there was the student activities portion, which was the logistical, sort of finding a space where it’s gonna happen, finding a day where there aren’t other things going on, and then making sure that all of that gets cleared with student activities and with the Music Department,” he continued, “and then we had the portion where we’re actually trying to put together bands and have them rehearse pieces and hold auditions for them.”
The concert included performances from both individuals and groups.
“We had a band that was made completely of five preps. In my time here I have never seen a band of all preps, which is super exciting to see,” Akhtar said. “It’s nice seeing younger people come out and play. It kind of gave me hope for the future of the club.”
Simpson also spoke about what the concert meant to him as a senior that had been involved with EAR for the past several years, “The concert was definitely memorable. It’s memorable for me personally, as it’s kind of the first of the lasts. It’s the last fall term concert that I’ll do for EAR, and so there’s sentimentality in that regard.”
Selected students participated in musical workshops with visiting guitarist Julian Lage. Students described Lage as a creative and novel player.
Akhtar said, “I was super excited to find out he was coming to campus. He’s a very creative player. He utilizes the instrument in a way that’s just so unique. In our lessons, he didn’t emphasize technique, but more about letting your mind guide your hands.”
Another concert held recently was the student soloist concert on Oct. 20. In order to showcase the full extent of their learning, students all practiced diligently and put a lot of thought into deciding the musical piece they were going to perform. Some students decided to break from their comfort zone and explore new pieces that are completely different from what they usually perform.
Malhotra decided on a jazz piece that she had previously learned but hadn’t gotten a chance to perform: “Much of my training has been in classical music, and it’s a completely different experience doing jazz. In jazz, there’s a lot of improvisation and so you’re putting a lot more of yourself into it,” Malhotra said. “It’s like you are your own composer, coming up with what you’re singing at the moment, which I find very fun. I’ve listened to a lot of different singers who recorded this piece, and through that I’ve been able to find my own interpretation.”
Like Malhotra, Price decided to pick a contemporary piece in contrast to his usual practices of classical music. “I played a piece by a composer named James McCoy. He was my father’s first composition teacher, and he wrote this piece in the ‘80s. It’s a very contemporary piece,” Price said. “There are no measure numbers, there are no bar lines or anything. You start a stopwatch and you go based on the time. Everything together, it’s a very beautiful piece.”
When asked why they wanted to participate in the concert, performers responded by saying that it was a great way for them to gain experience outside their usual practices.
“Later in the year I want to perform in the concerto competition, and the soloist concert felt like a great way to kind of start performing in front of bigger audiences,” upper Bryan Chen said. “I practice so that nothing goes wrong, but sometimes I get nervous. Thankfully, I practiced so much that I felt pretty confident.”
To them, their hard work paid off. Reflecting back on their performances, the soloists were satisfied with how it turned out.
“I was very happy about how my performance went. Although I don’t think it was necessarily the best concert I’ve ever played, it was one of my favorites,” Price said. “I had a lot of fun and that’s the main thing for me. I’m definitely going to want to play in another showcase concert.”
“Performing is super fun and there are always ways to find more enjoyment in performance, and improve. Singing was a great experience. Just because you get to see how it feels to actually, you know, sing in front of others instead of singing by yourself in a practice room. I was using a microphone in the performance and I hadn’t really used a mic before. So that’s something I definitely could’ve done better on,” Malhotra said.
Chen agreed by stating that the experience to him was “very valuable.”
“I think that all people should try it with me. It really helps. Well, I guess it’s just fun. I mean, you get to show off a little and you know, you repeat that. People should definitely perform because it makes them feel good, and helps them feel more confident in themselves. And also, it’s just fun to show off a little bit,” he concluded.
Amidst heavy workloads, various clubs, and packed schedules, many Exonians make the choice to be involved with music. For many of these Exonians, music is much more than just another activity or hobby, it is one of their core passions that drive a significant part of their lives.
Price commented on the joy he felt when performing in the student showcase concert and on what he hoped to bring to the audience. “I’ve realized recently that if you’re on stage playing music and not worrying about getting everything absolutely correct, and if you just go up there and enjoy playing music because it’s something that you love doing, then you can have a big effect on the audience, no matter what the piece is, because they pick up on your passion.”
Performing and working with others within a group was another valuable aspect of music-making that students mentioned. Ahktar described the Jazz band, “The energy in that group is something really special. Mr. Rabb is a phenomenal director — he keeps our energy high and keeps us laughing all the time, [and so] even when we’re working through challenging parts as a band, we’re always laughing through it,” he added, “And it’s just like, I lose a free block, but it doesn’t feel like I’m losing a free block, you know? Because I’m doing something I love.”
Students finished off by speaking about why they admired their specific artistic medium. Malhotra shared her thoughts on the voice, “Your voice as an instrument is very personal, and as a result very dynamic. What you eat affects your voice, how much you’ve slept affects it, how you’re feeling that day. If you try to sing after having a bad day, it’ll show up. Singing is putting a part of yourself ‘out there,’ but our community is so supportive, and you know that they will support you no matter what,” Malhotra concluded.
