The Bryan Hall Theatre filled with people for the senior recital of Anya Guadamuz, the fulfillment of a requirement for the completion of a bachelor’s of music in vocal performance, but also one of the first in-person performances allowed on campus.  

The recital on Nov. 30 was a culmination of months of hard work and preparation done by Guadamuz to put on the show. They worked with their professors to choose which music would best represent them and showcase what they had learned, Guadamuz said. 

“We chose vocal pieces that represented different eras of classical music,” Guadamuz said. “But it was also important to represent different languages. In the recital, I sing in French, German, English and Catalan.”

The recital was well-paced, showcasing the music from six different composers, both male and female. Alongside the pieces in a different language were the translated lyrics so the audience could follow along. Additionally, a short blurb was featured about the composer to give helpful context to their lives and contributions to music.

“I looked to build a story in my head with the songs,” Guadamuz said. “I take the poetry in there and follow it in my head. It was the biggest help in memorizing, especially songs of other languages.” 

Each piece was selected both for the pacing of the music, but also taking into account representation and Guadamuz’s mezzo-soprano vocal range. The result was a mixture of melodies and composers that diversified the set of pieces and made each one unique. 

The recital was one of the first back in person for the School of Music; the audience was thrumming with applause and excitement with the end of each song. Previously, students would perform their senior recital through Zoom, not giving the same feel as in person. Guadamuz experienced this as they were called to practice over Zoom in the early stages, they said. 

“One of your biggest takeaways with a performance degree is being able to adapt in front of an audience,” Guadamuz said. “There is an element of how the live audience will react to you, which really helps. I really missed performing in person.”

This was a sentiment that was shared throughout the School of Music, said Amber Vosk, senior music education major. 

“It is so wonderful being back in person,” Vosk said. “Being able to hear our peers perform live is such a gift after a year of online schooling. I really enjoyed listening to Anya’s recital.”

While being in person offered a crucial element to performing the recital, it was also streamed online extending the reach of Guadamuz’s great performance. 

Looking back on their time at WSU, Guadamuz said they weren’t always on the path to getting a degree in music. In their first year at WSU, they were pursuing a nursing track and switched to music their sophomore year.

“I thought I would just make it my major and be happy every day with it,” Guadamuz said. “Everything about the degree interested me. The classes were interesting, and I got to perform a lot which I loved doing. It is very hard but also very rewarding.”

The recital went off incredibly well, with every element seemingly complementing the others. The pieces flowed well together, keeping a quick pace without sacrificing the enjoyment of the music and Guadamuz’s voice. 

“Anya is incredibly talented, smart and caring,” Vosk said. “I know they put tons of hard work into their recital, and it definitely showed through their radiant voice and musical expression.”

The senior recital of Guadamuz was a success, marking the fulfillment of a new beginning in their pursuit of careers within their field, they said. Other seniors in the School of Music hope to replicate this with their own senior performances.

The School of Music’s senior recital schedules are available on their website, and students are welcome to attend. If Guadamuz’s recital is anything to go by, they are well worth attending!