Music department students to present recital Dec. 4

Ripon College students will perform a music department recital, Thursday, Dec. 4, at 12:15 p.m., in Demmer Recital Hall of Ripon College’s C.J. Rodman Center for the Arts. Admission is free and open to the public.

Senior Rori Beatty will perform the first movement of “Duet for Cello and Bass” by Gioachino Rossini on cello with senior Samantha Campbell on bass.

“Student recitals are always a fun way to see what your friends have been working on,” Beatty said. “A lot happens behind the scenes that most people don’t get to see. Even if you don’t know anyone, there will be a diverse set of music; there’s something for everyone.”

Beatty also said this recital is a great way to support the arts on campus.

“The recital feels like a way to share what I have been preparing for my juries (music lesson finals) for the semester with the campus and community, as juries are closed events to just music faculty and the students,” Campbell said.

First-year Libby Anhold will sing “Could I Leave You?” by Stephen Sondheim.

“This recital is an opportunity for people to see the wide array of talent that is here at Ripon College,” Anhold said. “It’s an exciting honor to have been selected by the music department to perform, and I just encourage anyone from the College community to come see the recital.”

Junior Aidan Mellesmoen, tenor, will sing “Lydia” by Gabriel Fauré. He said he’s grateful for the chance to share with the community the music he is studying.

“Ripon College is home to many talented musicians, and because we are such a close-knit campus, it is heartwarming to see those around us coming to support us,” Mellesmoen said. “In short, it strengthens the sense of community at Ripon College.”

Junior Matthew Buchholz, baritone, will sing “Die beiden Grenadiere” by Robert Schumann.

“People should come to the student recitals as there are so many people on campus who have put tremendous work into music and don’t get much recognition for it,” Buchholz said. “It means so much to so many performers when an unexpected face is in the audience that cheers them on. It certainly means a lot to me.”

Buchholz also encourages other students with any interest in music lessons or ensembles to give it a try.

“There are so many music opportunities on campus that don’t require a large amount of commitment,” Buchholz said. “Many of the people taking lessons are just taking one 30-minute lesson, and now they get to perform at the student recital.”

Izzie Lamia, a first-year, will sing “Always True to You in My Fashion” by Cole Porter and “A Change in Me” by Alan Menken and Tim Rice. She said this performance is especially meaningful, given that it is her first solo performance at Ripon.

“While performing alone is both exciting and nerve‑racking, it is also an opportunity to grow as a musician and to celebrate the start of my college experience,” Lamia said. “Being part of a recital with other students makes it even more special, because together we are showcasing the talent and dedication of our community.”

Other performers include first-year Mason Burton, cello; junior Jahquan Hamilton, guitar; and sophomore Brady Weber, guitar.

The recital will also feature an original composition by the students in the fall 2025 Foundations in Music class. This course serves as the introduction to the College’s music theory sequence. The students in the class, in collaboration with Adjunct Instructor of Music David Thompson, have applied their theory skills by composing an art song.