Recital: Hitomi Yakata, Jennifer Montone, Karen Donnelly, and Cristian Ganisenco

The audience was treated to some beautiful playing on the Wednesday afternoon 1:30 recital in Corbett Auditorium. The recital commenced with euphonium soloist Hitomi Yakata, who has just finished an Artist Diploma from Indiana University, where she also studied trombone and was an Assistant Instructor. Yakata’s first selection was Sonata No. 6 by Antonio Vivaldi, which showcased her pure, radiant tone and her gentle command of the florid, melodic passages. Seemingly effortless, Yakata’s stylistic approach to the multi-movement work was eminently appropriate and tasteful. Her beautiful tone and elegant interpretation charmed and enchanted the audience. Fantasie Concertante by Jacques Casterede was Yakata’s next piece. This work gave listeners an opportunity to enjoy Yakata’s splendid sound as well as her impressive technique. Yakata and her accompanist, Marta Erdei, were a pleasure to hear.

Hornist, Jennifer Montone, followed Yakata. Montone is Third Horn with the New Jersey Symphony, and has also performed with the New York Philharmonic and the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. Her musical command and maturity was breathtakingly conveyed in her performances of Robert Planel’s Legende and Camille Saint-Saen’s Morceau de Concert. It was evident the audience hung on her every note.

Unfortunately, a prior commitment forced this reviewer to leave the recital after Ms. Montone’s performance. There were two more performers: Karen Donnelly, Principal Trumpet for the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa, and Cristian Ganisenco, Principal Trombone with the Cincinnati Symphony and Cincinnati Pops. Donnelly played the Concertino in E-flat by Ernest Sachse, and the fourth movement of the Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra by Malcolm Forsyth. Mr. Ganisenco played Cavatina by Camille Saint-Saens, and Concerto for Trombone and Piano by Launy Grondahl.

Submitted by Dr. Sharon Huff (Hitomi Yakata’s performance) Dr. Susan Rider, trumpet “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band