On February 1, Kirkland Fine Arts Center held a concert with the Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra. Not only was this a display of the orchestra, which has members of both the Decatur area and Millikin students, the Decatur Youth Orchestra and the two winners of Millikin’s Aria and Concerto concert performed. The program consisted of Mozart’s Overture to The Marriage of Figaro, two beautifully sung arias’ by mezzo-soprano Chelsea Wright, an alto saxophone concerto performed by Adam Blakey, Variations on a Shaker Melody, and Bizet’s Symphony in C Major.

In the words of Dr. Mark Samples the concert was a “veritable musical fountain of youth,” and from the composers to the performers he was most definitely correct. In Dr. Samples’ pre-concert lecture he gave his audience a taste of the Symphony in C Major and the pieces the soloist were to preform. Bizet’s Symphony was the first piece performed. This symphony is outstanding, and not only because the composer wrote it when he was only 17. When one listens to the first movement you can feel a certain liveliness that can be almost be described as youthful. It’s bouncy and fun, extremely lively and brilliantly performed by the Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra.

Now on to the winners of the Aria and Concerto competition; firstly came Bloomington native Chelsea Wright. The young mezzo-soprano sang Mozart’s “Non so piu” from The Marriage of Figaro and Saint-Saens “Mon Coeur s’ouvre a ta voix” from Samson and Delilah. The song she sang first was originally a “pants role” which was a woman playing a man to put it simply. She – or he as the opera wants you to believe – sings of being in love almost every woman with a pulse and the torment the young character feels in his heart and mind while living with the feelings. In Ms Wright’s second aria, she portrays a women trying to convince her lover to abandon his military duties and stay with her. Both arias show Miss Wright’s talent as a singer and I was astonished at her skill and there is no doubt she will go far in her career.

For the second winner, this was the Decatur native Mr. Adam Blakey’s second time playing in the concerto competition and not anyone who has heard him play can doubt his skill. This musical performance major performed an alto saxophone concerto in E flat major by the Russian composer Alexander Glazunov. Some basics of the piece are that it is a one-movement piece for the alto saxophone and strings, and unlike what you’d expect from the saxophone, there was not a hint of jazz whatsoever, because of the composers nationality it had a very Russian feel, especially in the final movement. The piece was brilliantly performed.

Saturday was a night not easily forgotten. Music majors everywhere could say they were very proud of where they’re attending school and studying. Keep a look out for future dates that the Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra plays, you will not be disappointed.