The Kent State University Orchestra performed Feb. 16 to highlight student talent from the annual concerto competition held in November at Cartwright Hall.

Director Jungho Kim led the Kent State Orchestra in several pieces, including Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake Suite,” highlighting not just the orchestras musical talent but the talent of Ian Daugherty and Tiago Carvalho E Silva.

Undergraduate oboe player Ian Daugherty smiled through his nerves as he talked before the performance to Silva. After hours of practice, both felt prepared to perform in front of the crowd in the University Auditorium, but both admitted to feeling “antsy” beforehand.

Daugherty and Silva both stood in front of crowds of judges this past November in the annual concerto competition, and they won within their instruments categories: The oboe and clarinet, respectively.

“I am so pleased to host an event to show off students who I have worked with everyday, and I have watched grow so much in such a short amount of time,” Kim said.

Both Kim and his students agree that their success has come from the tireless dedication of the professors and staff in the school of music.

“I transfered to Kent State from Cleveland State, not for the fact that Kent may have a better program, but because of its teaching staff,” said Daughtery. 

Junior visual communication design student Sophia DelCiappo agrees that the staff promotes an unconditional love for music. She participates in the honorary band sorority, Tau Beta Sigma, and the Kent State marching band as well. Her love of music and her friends drove her to come to the orchestra’s performance.  

“I’m not in the performing arts,” said Dalciappo. “But my professors are here to make everyone with a love for music better — even if it’s not their major.”

The hard work of professors, students and Kim showed in their performance as the audience burst into applause as Silva and the orchestra ended the concert.

Kim glowed with pride as his students stood to take a final bow. He remarked that though this is only his second semester as director of the orchestra, he has plans to further the orchestras success. His plan begins with adding collaborations with the Kent State choral program and other Kent State factions as well.

In May, the orchestra will collaborate with the Wick Poetry Center and choral department to create music through instrument and voice. 

Caroline Henneman is a humanities reporter. Contact her at [email protected]