By SUSANNAH DENHAM ’26
Updated 11:50 a.m. EDT, 13 Feb 2026
Musicians rehearse, practice, and pour out their hearts and souls for the joy of finally sharing music with an audience. From someone who lives in the music building, don’t miss these upcoming concerts and recitals!
On Feb. 16, Sarah Brunone ‘27, soprano, will perform her vocal junior recital at 6:30 p.m. The repertoire includes some musical theater, but focuses on opera, sacred music and art songs. Translations will be available for pieces in a foreign language. Brunone will collaborate vocally with Dominic Larson ‘27, Grace Keir ‘27 and Bailey Lewis ‘28, accompanied by graduate student Rachel Huchthausen ‘23 on the piano. After hearing some of their work together in voice studios, I can confidently recommend that you attend. Junior recitals are about a half-hour long, but if you can’t make this one, you should plan to attend Brunone’s senior recital next year!
Speaking of senior recitals, graduate student Allie Leary ‘24 put together an incredible program for her final collaborative piano recital at 8 p.m. on Feb. 23. The program is titled Kontrast (the German spelling of “contrast”) because all of the lyrics in her recital are in German. Leary selected pieces of music to represent the themes of darkness (sadness, loss, and death) and light (hope, peace, and serenity). She will accompany voice Professor Luke Ogden as he sings “Erlkonig” by Schubert, a German romantic song symbolizing loss. Leary and graduate student Faith Kaschube ‘27 on the violin will perform “Scherzo” from the “F-A-E Sonata,” a piece by Johannes Brahms that expresses triumph and joy. Along with these two pieces, Leary will collaborate with many more students and faculty, vocalists and instrumentalists.
If you prefer large ensemble performances, the Houghton Symphony Orchestra has a stellar line-up for their concert on Feb. 26 at 7:30 p.m. To open the concert, the orchestra will premiere a piece by Brooke Pierson, with the composer in attendance. The two central pieces will feature Bailey Lewis ‘28 and Sarah Hoppough ‘26, the winners of last semester’s Aria and Concerto competition. Lewis will sing an aria from the Italian opera “Don Pasquale” by Gaetano Donizetti. Hoppough will perform Movement 2 of Jacques Ibert’s “Concertino for Alto Saxophone & Chamber Orchestra.” Finishing out the night is Joseph Haydn’s Symphony no. 13 in D Major, featuring Professor Jeremy Russo on cello.
Last, but certainly not least, is an exciting collaborative piano recital by the well-loved student Huchthausen. She will wrap up her seven years at Houghton with a recital focusing on “dialogues.” She hopes to explore the nature of language and music as we talk to God, to ourselves, and to each other. On March 11, at 8 p.m., Rachel and her collaborators—Ogden, Dr. Soo Yeon Kim (violin), Leary (piano), and Dr. Kimberly Prins Moeller (voice)—will present works by Benjamin Britten, Arvo Pärt, Gabriel Fauré, and Brahms.
Except for the Orchestra concert, which takes place in Wesley Chapel, come support your friends, professors and peers for each of these performances in the Center for the Arts Recital Hall! ★
