Senior Recitals By: Brett Briggeman

Senior recitals at Hardin-Simmons University (HSU) are just around the corner.

These performances allow music majors to showcase the work that they have put in during their time at HSU, sharing their love of music and mastery of their areas with those who attend. All recitals are free of charge and students are encouraged to attend. For a list of senior recital dates, times and places, those are organized at the end of this article.

Jackson Dyer is a senior worship leadership major from Granbury who spoke about how influential HSU’s worship ensemble and College of Arts and Media (CAM) has been for him as a musician and a person.

“Worship Ensemble has been a great community to hone my craft in a loving environment,” Dyer said. “I'm just so happy to see the early beginnings of what is already a great College of Arts and Media. My recital is going to be a blend of contemporary worship songs,  classical pieces, cover songs and original songs that blend all of my gifts together well. I wanted to showcase each of my styles and show that we should praise the Lord in all that we do, no matter the genre. It's gonna be a fun time with friends and family to enjoy some great songs.”

Marissa Lacefield is a senior music education major from Argyle who spoke on the influence of HSU’s CAM and choir. 

“My favorite HSU experience is getting to represent CAM at homecoming this past fall, and be a SING director in 2024,” Lacefield said. “I also love being a part of choir and making lasting, meaningful relationships. At my recital I will be performing some of my repertoire I have been working on since my freshman year. It's a showcase of my time here at HSU, and a nostalgic look back for me to see how far I've come and how much I have grown as a musician and portrayal of the arts. I chose my favorite pieces from my time here; some have been my most challenging songs and some are just plain old guilty pleasures.”

Lacefield also praised the faculty and staff who have helped her during the time she has spent in the Music Department at HSU.

“The faculty and staff of the Music Department is what kept me here and helped me when I needed encouragement,” Lacefield said. “Dr. Amanda Guidi, assistant professor of voice], Dr. Dee Romines, associate professor of music education and director of choral activities, Dr. Lynette Chambers, professor of voice, Ms. Jeanine Wheeler, adjunct piano teacher and Dr. Bob Brooks, dean of the College of Arts and Media,  have all been highly influential and I could not be more grateful for their guidance. It will be a challenge to part with them, but I forever hold their words and encouragement in my heart.” 

Masen Stephenson is an instrumental music education major graduating in 2027 from Eula, who spoke on his experience in Cowboy Band and the jazz band at HSU.  

“My favorite part about the HSU experience has been being in Cowboy Band and Jazz Band,” Stephenson said. “I’ve been on many trips including to the Dallas Holiday Parade, London, England for the London New Years parade, and I will be going to Washington D.C. with the Cowboy Band and the Jazz Band for Memorial Day. However, all the trips and performances in the world can’t top the experiences I’ve shared with other people in band, Kappa Phi Omega, and the Hardin Simmons community. The people I’ve met have helped me grow in many ways that will influence how I go about my future in my career and life. My recital will showcase the progress I’ve made on clarinet and have an ensemble with some of my fellow clarinet players at Hardin-Simmons.”

Amber Cardenas is a senior musical theatre major from Houston, will be having a senior showcase through the HSU Department of Theatre as opposed to a recital. Cardenas notes how the relationships she has built are her favorite part of her HSU experience.

“My favorite part of the HSU experience has definitely been the relationships that I've made while I've been here,” Cardenas said. “Even though my major technically falls under the department of theatre, the department of music has been such a joy to work with and has helped me grow so much as a performer and as an individual.”

“Instead of a recital, I'm doing a showcase through the theatre department,” Cardenas said. “It's similar to a recital, but it also has non-musical scenes, lights and props integrated into the program as well as songs. For my showcase in particular, expect to see a journey of love and self-acceptance tying all of the pieces together. The pieces being used were chosen to loosely portray the emotional and spiritual growth I've been through while I've been here. Each piece shows a different stage of that growth, whether it's the proud moments proclaiming my worth or the quiet reflective moments that I doubt that same worth I once proclaimed.”

Daniel Rector is a senior music education major with an emphasis in choral music, from Clyde. His favorite part of being at HSU has been the professors. 

“My favorite part of my HSU experience has been getting taught by some of the best professors in their field,” Rector said. “I cannot stress enough how the faculty here have genuinely shaped me into a better person and ultimately made me the man I am today.”

“In my recital, people can expect music from a few different cultures,” Rector said. “With languages like Italian, German and English, the repertoire is vast and difficult which makes for an amazing recital. My voice teacher and I chose the pieces for my recital by going down the list of songs that I have sung throughout my college career and picking from that list. I had to make sure that the styles were contrasting enough to keep the audience engaged. I also had to make sure not every song was in the same key because hearing the same notes repeatedly for 30 minutes gets annoying after a little bit.”

Be sure to come out and support our senior music students at their respective recitals. 

Senior Recitals:

Masen Stephenson Senior Recital

March 28^th—2 p.m.—Woodward-Dellis Recital Hall

Marissa Lacefield Senior Recital

April 2^nd—7:30 p.m.—Woodward-Dellis Recital Hall

Daniel Rector Senior Recital

April 17^th—7:30 p.m.—Woodward-Dellis Recital Hall       

John King Senior Recital

April 24^th—7:30 p.m.—Woodward-Dellis Recital Hall

Jackson Dyer Senior Worship Recital

April 25^th—3 p.m.—Woodward-Dellis Recital Hall

Brayden Arft Senior Recital

May 1^st—7:30 p.m.—Woodward-Dellis Recital Hall

Amber Cardenas Senior Showcase

May 7^th— 3 p.m.—Van Ellis Theatre

Colton Bosang Senior Showcase

May 7^th— 7 p.m.—Van Ellis Theatre