PRHH Ensemble performance strikes a chord

By Sofia Santiago

Serene orange lights graced the Bart Luedeke Center theater stage, shining on various instruments: a keyboard, electric and acoustic guitars, a drum set and six microphones. The line waiting outside was buzzing with excitement as students, friends and family gathered before the doors opened. 

The Pop, Rock, and Hip-Hop Ensemble held their fall concert on Nov. 5, featuring covers and original songs performed live by students. The show was divided into two sets, with a 10-minute intermission in between them. 

The Ensemble, taught by Johnathan Richeson, adjunct professor in the music production department and freelance musician, is a class that students participating in the concert are enrolled in. 

Over the course of the semester, students select songs through a voting process, and meet up once a week outside of class time to practice and arrange music to fit the needs of the show. The culmination of their hard work and dedication was showcased in the concert, which also served as their final exam.

Although students were grouped into different sections of rhythm, vocals and production, if they had multiple interests they could be in multiple sections

As the professor, Richeson oversees auditions and guides students through the process by teaching them how to make and read music more efficiently and what to expect in a professional environment.

Richeson said, “I play music full time for a living, so I know what’s expected when you show up to rehearsal. I know what will keep you hired and I know what will get you fired … The goal is for them to understand what it takes to do this at a high level, and to raise the standard.”

Madeleine Gilson, junior music production and arts and entertainment industries management major, performed as an ensemble vocalist and keyboardist.  She reflected on the class’ encouraging atmosphere, saying, “Throughout the entire process everyone is there for each other. It’s so lovely to see the progress that everyone has made, and we just keep on sounding better and better every semester. Now, don’t get me wrong, there’s some slip ups here and there, but … it’s a really nice class.”

Matt Lequang, senior music production major, ensemble veteran, guitarist and rhythm section leader, commented on what the band focuses on. 

“Our goal as a band is to sound like one unit. We don’t want to sound like a bunch of parts that are put together. So that takes a lot of eye contact,” he said. “If the basses and drums are vibing, it could be because there’s a tough section coming up. They need to look at each other to make sure they hit that right on cue.” 

Once the instrumentalists were situated onstage, six vocalists walked on, claimed a microphone and jumped right into the first song, “Fine China” by Chris Brown. 

The performers transitioned straight into the second song, “Brown Sugar” by D’Angelo, allowing a brief interlude to welcome the audience and enough time for some vocalists to switch microphones or move to an instrument. 

The show continued with a mix of sweet, smooth voices to songs such as “Isn’t She Lovely” by Stevie Wonder in the first set, and powerful instrumentals to songs like “Dr. Darkness” by Goose in the second set. The first set ended with Mariah Carey’s “All I want for Christmas,” and the show ended with “Cosmic Girl” by Jamiroquai. 

During both ending songs, the class of over 20 students came on stage to dance, sing along and encourage each other’s performances.

This marked Richeson’s fourth year teaching the class. He explained how much the Ensemble has grown since his first semester teaching it.

“My first class had six people, and this year we had 22,” Richeson said.

He attributed the growth to the students he had in his ensembles. “These students are so great, they just spread the word, and they put on such a great performance that people come to the shows and they want to be a part of it.”

Additionally, Richeson explained how, due to the amount of students interested in the class, this was the first year auditions were held. 

Although all students were accepted, auditions served as a more organized way for Richeson to place students into the Ensemble. 

Two different groups were formed after this process and met to practice separately before putting it all together for the concert.

The night also featured a student’s original music. Midway through the first set, the Ensemble performed “Grace (Falling Haven),” by Thomas Henry Smith, junior music production major and guitarist in the Ensemble. 

Originally composed by Smith on the guitar during the summer before entering Rider, the song made its way to the Ensemble, where Smith was able to bring out his vision with the help of the class.

The song started off with a pensive melody played on guitar by Smith that was carried throughout the rest of the song. 

When asked about the meaning and title of the song, Smith said, “Transitioning from high school to adulthood can be shambling, so it became a little bit of a plea, give us a little bit of grace during this time where we are trying not to lose ourselves, to stay en route.”

This sentiment was echoed by Harlie Epstein, senior liberal arts major, seasoned ensemble vocalist and vocal section leader, who described what she learned over her four semesters in the class.