EDMOND—Eight pianists, five singers, three guitarists, two flutists and two violinists performed in front of approximately 100 friends and family on December 4 in the Herbert W. Armstrong College music department winter recital at Armstrong Auditorium.

The 75-minute program represented the culmination of 1,000-plus combined hours of memorizing, drilling and refining, and included solos by eight first-time recital participants and one Imperial Academy instructor.

Pianists dominated the program. Preceding senior Justin Yocum’s finale on the concert grand Steinway were fifth-year senior Jamie Hawkins; juniors Samuel Livingston, Michael Cocomise and twins Victoria and Elyssia Lancaster; and freshmen Calela Brooks and Arianne Olsen. Only Yocum and the Lancasters had previously performed on the piano during an AC recital.

Yocum, donning a black tuxedo complete with matching red cummerbund and handkerchief, concluded the evening with a confident flourish.

“I hope I left them a little more joyful than they first came,” Yocum said. “It’s kind of like a speech: If you don’t conclude it well, it all falls apart, and that’s what people remember. I would have hoped to have left the people inspired by what’s going on in the music department.”

Hawkins, who has sung in six AC recitals and co-starred in a senior voice recital in May, made her piano debut. “One thing that made it different is that I’m used to standing and completely facing the audience,” she said. “It was a whole new experience to have no pianist by my side as I’m singing, like I am used to. I was the pianist, so that made it a little nerve-wracking, but I tried to just focus on the music.”

Hawkins was also one of five singers to take the stage, singing songs in French, German and Italian. Imperial Academy science instructor Sarah Evans, two-year graduate Lindsy Eagle, junior Jordanya Rouzer, and sophomore Brandi Davis also performed.

The evening began with five straight guitar pieces performed by two Canadians and an Australian. Freshman Johnathan Mansour, sophomore Daniel Westerbaan and freshman Kieren Underwood played together before taking turns strumming alone. Underwood performed two solos using two different guitars; Mansour and Westerbaan both played Romance. All three were AC recital newcomers.

“I felt initially nervous but comforted knowing that we all have the support of the student body,” Mansour said. “It was a great learning experience. It taught me how to stay more composed up there and will help in future performances …. It was also nice to represent the first-ever Herbert W. Armstrong College classical guitar ensemble.”

Australian sophomore Emma Smithies and New Zealander junior Lauren Eames played flute solos. Eames’s piece conveyed the range of emotions one might experience at the culinary and cultural marvel that is the Carnival of Venice.

Eames’s sister Kaitlin, a sophomore, and freshman Stephanie Cocomise bowed the strings of their violins. Eames played her Rondo Allegro at a blinding pace. Cocomise’s number contained short, intense volleys followed by brief pauses.

Imperial Academy students will perform their winter recital on December 11 in Armstrong Auditorium.