Wright's third midterm music showcase held
Wilbur Wright’s music department conducted its third midterm music showcase on Oct. 8 at 2:00pm in the music rehearsal room, E207. The midterm music showcase is an opportunity for music students at Wright college to show off their musical skills, gain experience performing in front of an audience, and build their musical portfolio. Performances include a variety of instruments including piano, string and wooden instruments like the guitar and clarinet, and voice accompanied by an instrument.
The showcase runs for an hour maximum and the number of performances fluctuates based on students interested in performing. The midterm music showcase offers any student enrolled in a music class at Wright to perform, while performances are open to the public to watch their performance. Students majoring in a music degree and are enrolled in applied lessons are required to perform.
The showcase included six performers: Leonardo Godinez on piano, Donna Strand on piano, Kai Amsler on clarinet, Michael Moreno on piano, Patrycja Laskowska on guitar, and a vocal performance from Dasia Dobbin accompanied by music instructor Paul Scavone on piano.
Godinez performed the piece “Nénuphars”, French for “Water Lillies” composed by Catherine Rollin, Godinez said, “Since September until now, I’ve practiced one hour every single day just to get used to the song and its rhythms.”
Despite natural performance anxiety, after the performance, Godinez noted, “When you’re in a situation where your heart rate increases, your brain forgets while it's happening. This time I was able to memorize the piece and play it through, and I gained that experience of playing in front of others while also memorizing a piece.”
Amsler discussed their previous performance experience and how they felt after their performance in the showcase, “other than college auditions, I haven’t performed in front of other people, this was my first time. I think It’s always pretty nerve wracking to perform in front of people, but it does get easier and less nerve wracking, but I feel like I’ll always experience those nerves.”
Audience member Destiney Ganchola shared why she decided to attend the showcase, stating, “I always love going to a good performance and concert. I also think music is best when it’s shared with other people.”
The midterm music showcase is organized by music program coordinator and piano instructor Marissa Kerbel, who has been at Wright since January 2023.
Kerbel explained the music department’s progression in how music students are assessed by midterm, “when I started at Wright, I was only teaching piano and there was only one music performance major, applied piano, so we didn’t hold any performances at all that semester.”
When Covid-19 shut down classes, in-person music performances were halted.
Kerbel revived live performances in the Fall 2025 semester, and changed how the showcase is conducted and how music students were evaluated. Initially, music students were granted with only one opportunity to perform at the end of the semester for their final evaluation. Instead of a showcase, music students had to perform in front of a jury consisting of members of the music department in addition to performing for an audience.
Kerbel said, “I found that that was really stressful for the students; getting a grade while also playing in public at the same time. So when I became the music coordinator last fall, I decided to split the performances up. We have the opportunity for a public performance that’s not for a grade, they can just show up and play.” In addition to a public performance, music students are then evaluated for a grade separately by performing in front of faculty, where they then receive written feedback.
“I think that’s been really successful,” Kerbel said, “it also helps students build their confidence in performance since there isn’t that added stress of needing to score well enough for a grade.”
Kerbel praised their performances, “everyone played really well and seemed confident, and that’s the most important thing.”
Kerbel emphasized that since students are required to complete a fine arts credit, taking a music course will satisfy that credit while also giving students who are interested in music an entry point in their education.
“I think especially for students whose degrees are not related to the arts, like the hard sciences, it’s nice to have an outlet that’s using a different part of your brain” Kerbal said, “it helps you have a well-rounded education, which is what we strive for at the community colleges, well-rounded communal education.”
The showcase is a preview for the final music showcase at the end of the semester. “What I find really great about both showcases is that you can see the students’ growth and improvement with their instrument,” Kerbel remarks, “at the end of the semester, students are more familiar with their instrument and their skills are much tighter, and it's nice to see the student’s progression from the beginning of the semester, to the midpoint, and then where they are by the end of the semester.”
The end of semester showcase is a continuation of the midsemester showcase, and includes more student performers since students are more confident in their music abilities. This year’s final showcase will be held on Dec. 1 at 12:30pm in the theater. Students interested in learning more about music programs offered at Wright or are interested in performing can reach out Kerbel at mkerbel@ccc.edu
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