Musical performances show that “Davidson’s Got Talent”

Over fifty concertgoers filled Tyler-Tallman Hall this past Friday for the music department's first Musical Interlude of the semester. The program featured an assortment of works ranging from concert hall pieces by Rachmaninoff and Scriabin to piano rags by Scott Joplin and even works from the popular canon by Burt Bacharach. Populating the lineup were performers of all ages from the town of Davidson, including returning Davidson College alumni Jordan Kvanvig, '07, and Daniel Legrand, '11. As always, the space sounded acoustically stellar, perfectly suited for the voice, piano, flute, and sax performances that took place over the hour-and-fifteen-minute show.

Although the concert's subtitle, "Davidson's Got Talent," certainly rang true throughout the entire program, some performances were particularly notable. Sisters Martha and Clara Gerdes took to the flute and piano, respectively, for a rendition of Charles T. Griffes' Poem, A. 93. Martha played confidently through the early 20th century composer's piece, displaying her dexterity on flute as she traversed some challenging passages with ease, and behind her, Clara accompanied on piano, showing similar confidence on her instrument. Though I found myself occasionally wishing that Clara would play a bit softer on the piano in order to allow her sister's flute part to command more of the musical interest, upon the piece's completion, Clara presented her sister with a smile and a showcasing outstretched palm, acknowledging Martha's rousing effort.

It was in the concert's finale when Clara Gerdes took the stage again for Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 18, that she was able to display the full extent of her talents. This time accompanied by Davidson College's artist associate Cynthia Lawing, Clara delivered a performance very much worthy of the standing ovation it garnered. From the left side of the theater, it looked like her fingers were gliding over the keys, working up and down the keyboard with poise and elegance beyond her years. And upon completion of the concerto, the audience's awe was nearly palpable.

Bringing a bit of soul and show tunes to the concert was the Hoffler family. First, Nikki Hoffler, daughter of DC music librarian Katy Hoffler, performed in a delicate voice Rodgers' "Hello Young Lovers" from The King and I. Katy Hoffler herself followed, performing "Much More" from The Fantasticks in an operatic vibrato and acting out the song's lyrics as she sang. Then, husband John Hoffler took the stage on soprano sax for an instrumental version of Burt Bacharach's "A House is Not a Home," one of my personal favorites of the program. Husband and wife convened for a "What the World Needs Now" duet to close the four-song family set, punctuated a soulful sax solo by John Hoffler.

I can only hope that the success of "Davidson's Got Talent" will lead to more interaction between the college and the town at large. Clara Gerdes, for instance, would surely rise to the occasion were she given the opportunity to perform with DCSO, and Joann Rautenberg could undoubtedly hold her own in future chamber performances at Tyler-Tallman.

It speaks to Davidson's caliber that such talent exists right here in our little town; the college ought to nurture this talent and strengthen the bond between DC musicians and town musicians by programming more collaborative concerts in the future.