By Ripon Media in Arts & Entertainment, College Days on December 12, 2024
Alaina Wisteria Reflects on Debut Holiday Concert, Grace Blakeslee Shares Experiences with the Symphonic Wind and Jazz Ensemble
Ripon College hosted its annual holiday concert in Great Hall last Sunday.
Two separate performances were scheduled for the afternoon and evening, and reservations were required due to the popularity of the event.
Both concerts included performances from the Ripon College Concert Choir, Choral Union, Chamber Singers, Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Orchestra, Jazz Ensemble, and Guitar Ensemble.
Alaina Wisteria, a first-year, plays her violin in the Ripon College Holiday concert. Photo Courtesy of Ric Damm.
Alaina Wisteria, a freshman at Ripon College and violinist for the orchestra, said that she enjoyed performing this past weekend.
“The environment at Ripon College differs from my experience in high school because the college orchestra is much smaller,” Wisteria said.
Wisteria said she enjoys the smaller environment because it allows her to build relationships with older students and community members.
Grace Blakeslee, a junior at Ripon College and trumpet player for the Symphonic Wind and Jazz Ensemble, said “I was very nervous when I began playing the trumpet at Ripon College because I did not know if I was skilled enough to play at this level; but, after joining the trumpet section in the Symphonic Wind and Jazz Ensemble, everybody in the group was super nice and supportive. I felt welcomed and excited to play.”
Blakeslee said she also began playing the French horn for the Symphonic Wind Ensemble this year.
Wisteria said that she values the opportunity to speak to people with long experiences in music playing that she may not have otherwise met.
“When we met for our first music rehearsal, I was worried that our orchestra would be too small for an event like this; but, I felt very comfortable after meeting and rehearsing with our community members for the first time,” Wisteria said.
Her high school orchestra included various music to fit into different themes, and she enjoyed listening to the combination of the college orchestra, bands, and choirs during the Holiday Concert.
“My favorite piece to perform was White Christmas because I enjoy smooth and calming music; but, I enjoyed every piece we played this semester, including our performances of pieces from the baroque era,” Wisteria said.
The audience watches the Holiday Concert. Photo Courtesy of Ric Damm.
“White Christmas,” was directed by Yukiko Grine, Ripon College’s adjunct instructor of music.
Blakeslee’s favorite piece from the holiday concert was “In the Bleak Midwinter,” directed by Adjunct Instructor of Music Paul Dietrich, in the Jazz Ensemble.
“I am excited to see which music we will play because we always receive fun and interesting pieces. It has been a lot of fun learning French horn for the Symphonic Ensemble and I am excited to keep doing so next semester,” Blakeslee said.
Wisteria and Blakeslee explained that they are excited to begin rehearsals again after winter break. The music department is scheduled to host more concerts next semester.