The Elon Music Ambassadors will perform an anthology of European music for their spring concert, “Postcards from Europe,” at 7:30 p.m. May 11 in McCrary Theatre.
The versatile ensemble will be performing an eclectic selection of pieces including Gypsy jazz, Spanish Flamenco and the Beatles.
“There really will be something for everyone at this concert,” said Virginia Whittaker, director of Elon Music Ambassadors.
Each semester, the ensemble is given a specific theme, and students choose pieces that relate. Students spend the first half of the semester developing the musical arrangement and the second half rehearsing.
“I feel like they are really taking ownership because they’ve been involved from the very beginning,” Whittaker said.
Now in its fourth year, Elon Music Ambassadors serves two purposes. First, the ensemble provides students the opportunity to perform for a variety of events, from Elon alumni gatherings to tours on the East Coast after exams each semester. Second, it allows Elon music faculty to recruit high school students for the music department.
As a result, the ensemble is very selective. Elon music faculty specifically nominate each of the ten members.
The nature of the ensemble trains students to perform in a variety of settings, from a crowded band room to a formal hall, cultivating a level of professionalism and familiarity with performance.
“In the past, I have typically performed in larger ensembles where the focus is on the group as a whole,” junior Lianna Mills said. “Since there are only ten of us on stage, I have learned the importance of stage presence.”
Likewise, students’ musical abilities are challenged as they learn music theory and teach others to play new instruments. Because of the unique variety of instrumentation, it is not uncommon for students to try a new instrument to produce a more complete sound. Students gain teaching experience as a result.
Sophomore Jack Garno said the process has been rewarding, as he has gotten to know other members of the ensemble.
“We all can push each other musically to sound the best we can as a unit,” he said.
The reaction the ensemble receives from the audience is one of the most fulfilling moments, Whittaker said. For the spring show, Whittaker said she hopes the audience is inspired and moved by the performance.
“I would like them to feel like they’ve just experienced a taste of Europe through music. I want people to walk out of there and just feel great,” Whittaker said. “This is why we do what we do. This is why we’re musicians.”