ByL Chynna-Rose Foulkes
Bob Marley once said, “One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain.”
On Feb. 8, The School of Arts and Sciences presented “A Concert of Music by Frédéric Chopin,” Chopin being one of Poland’s greatest composers. The concert took place at the Saint Leo Abbey Church at 7 p.m.
Sijing Ye was the virtuosic pianist that performed the selected Chopin pieces. Ye was born in Southern China. She has been playing piano from the age of six years old and is still practicing to be a perfectionist pianist.
“Piano is life,” Ye said.
Ye has participated in numerous piano competitions in China and abroad. She is a versatile young virtuoso, with interests not only in piano, but also in singing, dancing, chess, and sports.
“I also made a sound system for one of the VR Home Theatre,” Ye added.
Jennifer Orendorf, administrator of events and special programs in schools of arts and sciences, hosted the concert. Orendorf chose Ye because “Saint Leo has a relationship with the Miami International Piano Concerto.” The Senior Development Officer, Francis, contacted the Miami International Piano Concerto to plan arrangements for Ye to perform at Saint Leo University.
Orendorf predicted that the concert would be “beautiful because it was going to be in the Saint Leo Abbey Church.”
Ye performed all her pieces on a Steinway Concert Grand Piano, which was provided by the “The Piano Gallery” in Clearwater, Florida. Many thanks are owed to Richard Behnke for donating to the concert.
Ye performed a few amazing pieces, including:
- Nocturne No. 7 in C-Sharp Minor, Op 27, No.1(1835)
- Nocturne No. 8 in D-Flat Major, Op 27, No 2 (1835)
- Ballade No. 1 in G Minor, Op 23 (1831-1835)
- Ballade No. 2 in F Major, Op 38 (1836-1839)
- Ballade No. 3 in A-Flat Major, Op 47 (1841)
- Ballade No. 4 in F Minor, Op 52 (1842-1843)
The Assistant Professor of Music at Saint Leo University, Cynthia Selph, said that “Sijing Ye played with such passion and virtuosity; and the performance was exquisite and outstanding.”
“Ye is a highly talented musician and hopes that I can one day play like her,” said Stephen Miller, a sophomore religion major and music minor.
Miller was interested in coming to watch “A Concert of Music by Frédéric Chopin” because he too is a pianist who enjoys Chopin’s music.
Alex Yoo, a sophomore accounting major, said “I thought the performance was phenomenal; the notes were hit right on the dot and the music was extraordinary.”
Yoo also stated that he was “very pleased with this event and would go to another event like this.”
The students were speechless after Ye’s performance. Tawana Dayes, a freshman criminal justice major, said “It was an amazing recital. I’m lost for words.”
“I’ve never heard this type of music before and I wanted to experience something new,” Dayes added.
Angela Lazzaro, a sophomore psychology major, said “I would love more events like this.”
Ye encourages young aspiring musicians to “always enjoy making music.” The audience truly enjoyed the concert and students are ready and willing to attend more event like this. Students should be on the look-out for upcoming events, such as “Saint Leo City Limits: Sweethearts” on Feb. 15 in the Black Box Theatre and “Canta Italia!” on Mar. 8 at the Saint Leo Abbey Church.
