A group of music students performed original works along with modern covers of popular songs during an end of the year showcase.
The Delta Omicron Professional Music Fraternity played 12 pieces to a small crowd in Pottle Music Building Auditorium on Thursday, May 9. The night was originally scheduled to be the Tri Fraternal Concert, featuring Phi Mu Alpha and Kappa Kappa Psi along with Delta Omicron.
That performance has since been moved to the fall. Delta Omicron held a more informal musical presentation, but performed well despite the circumstances.
“Tonight is just fun. We don’t always get to sing this type of stuff,” said Karista Filopoulos, a senior in vocal performance. “We could just do whatever we wanted. It was a little last minute on our part, but it came together. We had a lot of fun.”
Filopoulos performed “To Where You Are” along with Daniel Duensing on piano and both lent their voices to the song.
Filopoulos has been singing since she could remember as she spent most of her life surrounded by music. After entering college, she decided to give it a try.
“I’m part of a musical family. My mother is very musical and both of my sisters sing,” said Filopoulos. “I’ve just always grown up with music and I loved it.”
Southeastern Star contestant Provence Hatfield, a sophomore majoring in music education, performed an original piece on the piano. She also performed on the guitar during a duet with Nicholas Smith as the two covered Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours.”
“I just recently started composing in the last few years,” said Hatfield. “That piece was written in 2012, and I just decided that it was time to get out of the closet on composing and let people hear what I’m about.”
Hatfield showed off her range by singing and playing guitar and piano. She has played since she was five years old.
“It was all of us getting together and having fun,” said Hatfield. “It’s just in me; it’s what I do. It’s what gets me through the day.”
The last performance of the night featured a duet of Kayla Blanchard, voice, and Heidi Matherne, guitar, covering Britney Spear’s “Toxic.” Both covered Spear’s “Lucky” during last year’s performance and thought decided to continue the tradition.
“It’s really exciting, and we put it on because we do it every year,” said Blanchard, a junior in vocal music education. “It’s our end of the year thing. I think it went really well because a lot, about five or six, of the DO’s are graduating this year and leaving, so I think it was really special because of that.”
After the showcase, performers and attendees gathered in the hallways to celebrate their last performance of the semester. Blanchard gave some advice to those pursuing their dream of performing.
“Singing is the best thing in the world,” said Blanchard. “You should always do what you want to do and never not do it because you’re afraid.”
Visit the student organizations page on Southeastern’s website to learn more about Delta Omicron and information about joining the music fraternity.