As part of the schedule of events for Gustavus’ annual Honors Day, the Department of Music will present its Honors Recital, Saturday, May 6, beginning at 1:30 p.m. in Christ Chapel. Participation in the Honors Recital is determined by audition before the faculty in the department and is limited to graduating seniors. Those honored for inclusion in this year’s recital include Shannon Schultze, ‘cello; Kathryn Filius, soprano; Chad Fothergill, organ; Sara Butwinick, soprano; Colin McGuire, violin and Eric Wilberg, piano.
The 2006 Honors Recital opens with a performance of three works in French by Venezuelan composer, Reynaldo Hahn, performed by soprano Sara Butwinick. A native of West St. Paul, Ms. Butwinick has been a member of the Gustavus Choir, Choir of Christ Chapel, and the Chamber Singers. In addition to these Gustavus ensembles, she has also been a member of Barbara’s Shop Quartet and performed on Garrison Keillors’ A Prairie Home Companion.
Mankato West graduate and violinist Colin McGuire continues with Cantabile in D Major by Niccolo Paganini and the “Meditation” from Thais by Jules Massenet. McGuire, a four-year concertmaster of the Gustavus Symphony Orchestra, is a frequent soloist with the ensemble on the campus and on its annual concert tours, including the 2004 concert tour in China.
Organist Chad Fothergill follows with the Praludium in D, BuxWV 139 by Dietrich Buxtehude. Fothergill, a native of Cuba City, Wisconsin, is a music major and history minor, with a concentration in organ and church music and historical emphasis in European history from Luther’s Reformation through the Enlightenment. Following graduation, he will continue his church music studies at the University of Iowa.
Soprano Katie Fillius, a senior from San Diego, California, is next on the program with three works in German by composers Johannes Brahms and Richard Strauss. She opens with Standchen by Brahms and follows with Die Nacht and Standchen by Strauss. Fillius has been a member of the Gustavus Choir, the Choir of Christ Chapel and Barbara’s Shop Quartet. She appeared as Connie Lane in the 2004 Gustavus production of the musical Good News and has served as a cantor in Christ Chapel since 2003.
The Honors Recital continues with the Variations on a Slovakian Theme, written by Czech composer Bohuslav Martinu and performed by ‘cellist Shanon Schultze. A Rochester, Minnesota native, she is principal ‘cellist of the Gustavus Symphony Orchestra, participates in various chamber ensembles and studies both ‘cello and piano.
Eric Wilberg, an active accompanist for several ensembles and recitalists, concludes Saturday’s Honors Recital with a solo piano work by Franz Liszt, the Etude in D-flat Major, commonly known as “Un Sospiro.” Wilberg is currently a member of the Gustavus Choir and the St. Ansgar’s Chorus and a former member of the Choir of Christ Chapel. He was raised in St. Paul and is active in the Big Partner/Little Partner mentoring program at Gustavus.
Saturday’s Honors Recital is free and open to the public. It begins at 1:30 p.m. in Christ Chapel on the Gustavus campus.