On-Campus Review | Double-degree recital to provide double the fun at Distler
Naomi Bryant
Issue date: 10/24/07 Section: Arts
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This Friday, double-degree students will present the first cross-program recital ever to be held at Tufts. The musical performances will span a variety of genres, but the centerpiece of the evening will be the first-ever completely double-degree jazz band.
Jason Yeager, a junior studying international relations at Tufts and jazz performance at NEC, initially conceived of a double-degree performance last year as a "response to the beautiful new music facility at Tufts" and the fact that the program's jazz musicians "finally had the right instrumentation for a group."
Yeager then took his idea to Ryan Saunders, the Granoff Center's event producer and publicist, who expanded the recital in the hopes of "really making it a celebration of the double-degree program."
"The students are really serious and passionate about music, and I think the recital will give the wider community a chance to hear young musicians doing what they love to do," Yeager said.
When Yeager approached other double-degree students with the possibility of a recital, they were enthusiastic.
"There are only about 14 to 16 people in the program, and I think almost every one of them will be performing at the recital," said Emily Markoe, a junior majoring in sociology at Tufts and classical vocal performance at NEC.
Most of the students were excited to perform on the Medford campus where many people are unaware of the double-degree program and have never heard a double-degree recital.
"I have a lot of friends who don't know what I do at the Conservatory all the time," Markoe said, "I'm really excited to perform for my friends who don't get a chance to hear me sing. [The recital] is a great way to learn about NEC musicians."
Students agree that the double-degree program is difficult, and they often feel that they are torn between two worlds.
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