Inside King's-Edgehill School
Hidemi Sato (Grade 11), from Japan, is taking Grade 11 IB SL music in solo performance. Like other student performances that I've offered to the Headmaster's Newsletter before, Hidemi is preparing for her spring recital. This is a video clip of her jury adjudication, the jury consisting of four music teachers and an audience of other music students. I am always eager to hear music from different countries and cultures. All too often, we are exposed to standard classical repertoire, which I really like, but in most cases cannot truly enjoy simply because of the saturation point and varied levels of skill. Our International students bring with them music that we are not familiar with, both traditional and contemporary. Fresh works to the ear excites the brain differently than familiar pieces do. Alumna, Dr. Melanie Segado (2008) has been and is currently on the forefront of exactly this area of study. You can learn more about her from Google, YouTube, Linkedin, Twitter, etc.Take a few minutes to listen to Hidemi's piano performance of You Lie in A Field (English translation of the Japanese title) and consider the musical nuances and how they differ somewhat to the music with which you are most familiar. Try not to let the out-of-tune upper register of the piano throw you off (it was tuned the very next day); sorry about that. There are also a few glitches as well, but they are not to be the focus. This performance might excite you or feel otherwise; that's the beauty of music's emotional attachment to the individual. However, your brain responds to this performance, I think you will agree that Hidemi has talent and certainly the time to polish this most difficult piece to perfection before her recital date.
I'm excited for the evening of Thursday, February 20th 7:30pm, already. That evening will feature Hidemi and her fellow IB musicians for an entire evening of music. I welcome you to mark your calendars and join us in the Margaret Vair McLellan Concert Hall for the event.
I hope you enjoy the recital.
Jeff Smith
Director of Visual and Performing Art
You’ll find countless opportunities to express your artistic interests at our School. The Arts make up one of the essential four pillars of a King’s-Edgehill School education.
