On Nov. 14, the Hawaii Pacific University Voice Studio hosted an intimate concert called “In Her Shoes” in the Sunset Ballroom at HPU’s Aloha Tower Campus.
It was not just the first concert since the loosening of Hawaii COVID-19 restrictions, but also the first time ever being on stage for some students.
The theme of the night – putting a spotlight on works by female composers – was executed effectively via a wide variety of genres and songs.
Dressed in their best gowns, students rambled about nervously before the show was about start. The concept was not only about the music, but about the thoughts on the singers’ minds and the composers’ biographies as well.
“I think of a spring morning in Iceland,” explained student Amy MC Beach before performing “The Years at the Spring” with pianist Jennifer Duerden. Accompanied by a picture presentation in the background, the audience was visually stimulated while listening to a wide variety of songs — from the German song “Unruhiger Schlaf” by Louise Reichardt to a baroque piece by Isabella Colbran.
Along with HPU students, professional singers from Hawaii Opera Theatre entertained with performances of three of the “4 Cautionary Tales and a Moral” by Liza Lehmann and “Girl in 14G.”
In a situation where it would have been possible that the pros would overshadow the amateurs, concert host and HPU instructor Sarah Connelly made it possible to build an atmosphere that encouraged the process of development and sparked joy in making music.
The crowd cheers were equally enthusiastic as the professionals performed their songs dramatically and as the students can’t help but grin wide as high notes sat perfectly.
To display the beauty of singing together, the whole crew stood up and joined Rainbow Uli’I as she played ukulele and sang “Ku’u Pua Lehua” for the concert’s grand finale.
It clearly was a nerve wracking, but exciting experience for those who were in voice studio students’ shoes.
