Spring music concerts offer great mix of sounds and styles

Thayer held its Music Concert III and its Music Concert IV this week in the CFA’s Hale Theater, and the tradition of great spring concerts continued. 

Held April 9, Music Concert III featured five different combos as well as performances by the Thayer Chamber Orchestra. The chamber orchestra played works by Dimitri Shostakovich and Claude Debussy; the combos offered a wide range of more contemporary music including Stevie Wonder’s “Sir Duke,” Childish Gambino’s “Me and Your Mama,” and The Eagles’ “Hotel California.” 

Held April 11, Music Concert IV featured four different combos but also included the Charles Castleman ‘57 Orchestra led by Scholar in Residence Jin Kim, who is also music director and conductor of the Atlantic Symphony Orchestra (ASO). The orchestra performed selections from Bach, Chopin, and Mozart, among others. Additionally, the audience was treated to a performance by Luther Warren, an ASO member who helps with the string section of Thayer’s orchestra program. Warren performed two Bach pieces, one on the viola and the other on the violin.

The combos offered songs such as Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s “Murder on the Dance Floor," Boston’s “More Than a Feeling,” and Ashford & Simpson’s “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.” 

In addition to Kim, music directors for the night included Jeff Browne P ‘04, ‘05 and Steve Skop P ‘23. Dan Alosa handled sound design for both concerts; Erin Greene ‘25 handled lighting design for both concerts. 

Performing April 9 were: 

• Thayer Chamber Orchestra
• Skop Per G Combo
• Skop Per D Combo
• Browne Per G Combo
• Browne Per A Combo
• Browne Per D Combo

Performing April 11 were: 

• Thayer Charles Castleman '57 Orchestra
• Skop Per H Combo
• Skop Per F Combo
• Browne Per H Combo
• Browne Per F Combo