On April 3 in Martin Chapel, Cassidy Williams took to the stage to perform her Senior Recital, a series of classical songs centered around serenity, nature, peace, and God. Her performance was held in front of students, faculty, and family while also being broadcast on Facebook Live.
Joined by faculty member Harold Bailey on piano, Williams started her recital with “Et Exultavit” from Magnificat in D, followed by “Where’er You Walk” from Semele, “Gentle Airs, Melodious Strains!” from Athalia, “Plaisir D’amour,” and “Als Luise di Briefe ihres ungetreuen Liebhabers verbrannte” for her first half. Before each song, she’d explain what each meant and why they were meaningful to her.
After a brief intermission, she sang “Ave Maria,” the Franz Schubert version, and “Moonlight” from Three Songs of the Sea which she introduced by sharing, “The next song that you will hear is inspired by nature, and the serenity and the peace that filters through as you’re sitting out in nature, by a lake, under a tree, feeling the breeze.”
She followed “Moonlight” with “Early in the Morning” the penultimate song in her recital. Williams then announced that she had a surprise for the audience in store after the official performance was done.
“Now, before I introduce the last programmed piece, I would like to say there is an extra song I tacked onto the end with a very special guest singing with me. So I would love for you all to save your cheers and your standing ovation until after that.”
She then finished the official program with a song dedicated to her mom, who was sitting in the audience, “The Green Dog.”
“I included this piece for my mom. She was the one who invested me in choir and in all things music, and I figured that I would pay a tribute to her with one of her favorite art songs that I had performed with my voice teacher from middle school about seven years ago.”
There was a short bout of silence after “The Green Dog” before Williams began singing again when, walking in from the entryway, Senior Canyon Penner solemnly sang and pranced down the aisle. As he joins her on stage, they begin singing a duet of “Man or Muppet” much to the audience’s surprise.
With that, Williams finished the Recital by sharing appreciation for the numerous people who got her to the finish line. “Thank you, everyone, especially my mom, for coming out and supporting me in my very long journey here at EMU.”
