Thursday was the opening night for faculty recitals at Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus. Bob Conger performed on the trombone, Marc Fulgham on the trumpet and Matt Yount on the piano.
Music professor Bob Conger has taught at Southeast since 2004. Aside from teaching, he plays in the Paducah Symphony Orchestra and the Southeast Faculty Brass Quintet. Marc Fulgham is also a music professor and is not only the lead of the Brass Quintet but also a founding member. He has taught at Southeast since 1990. Matt Yount joined the faculty in 2003 and is an alumnus who has three degrees in both music and mathematics.
A large number of people came to see the start of the series of recitals and some Southeast students said they thought it was an excellent way to not only support their teachers but also the music program at Southeast. Many members of the Cape Girardeau community were also in attendance.
Fulgham and Conger each played a sonata accompanied by Yount during the recital. The sonatas were both from the early 1900s while the melodies performed by the trio later in the recital were from the late 1990s. They played selections from An Elizabethan Songbook written by Eric Ewazen and the song "Fandango" by Joseph Turrin. Wes Sharp, one of many students in attendance, said he didn't know any of the songs being performed, but he appreciates the music.
"They are great musicians," Sharp said. "It is sure to be a wonderful show."
After the concert Christopher Goeke, the chair of the department of music, shared his thoughts about the concert. He talked about how important he believed it was for students to be able to see their teachers doing what they are teaching in the studios. When they see what they are being taught, it shows them what studying music is all about.
"This is a great concert to start the season with, and these two, like all the faculty, are just great to work with," Geoke said.
