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The Lion's Roar

The Official Student News Media of Southeastern Louisiana University

The Lion's Roar

The Official Student News Media of Southeastern Louisiana University

The Lion's Roar

    Senior sings in perfect pitch during second solo recital

    At her senior recital, Michelle Guillot sang several songs in multiple languages. Family and friends gave testimony to how she had grown musically.

    At her senior recital, Michelle Guillot sang several songs in multiple languages. Family and friends gave testimony to how she had grown musically.
    Regina Pergola/The Lion's Roar

    Michelle Guillot, a graduating senior, recently had her second recital. Friends and family came to support her and listen to her performance.

    Her teacher gave insight on her background in music at the university.

    “I taught her for over four years,” said Dr. Stephen Rushing, a professor of vocal music. “She came in as a freshman and she’s been under my tutelage for every semester. She’s taken voice with me and this is her second recital, which is a full recital, about 50 minutes of music. She also gave a junior recital. As a music education major, you’re only required to give a half hour recital, but she’s interested in a degree of performance, so I encouraged her to go ahead and get the full recital out of the way.”

    Rushing went on to describe her many talents and gifts. 

    “She has lots of assets,” said Rushing. “One is that she has an incredible instrument that has a range, but she also has the gift of perfect pitch, she’s never wanting to find a pitch. The other dimension is that she’s extremely intelligent. When you have someone who has a natural ability with brains, then that’s a ripe combination for success.”

    Rushing gave credit to her hard work and described the bright future he saw for her. 

    “In her case, she has applied herself well,” said Rushing. “She’s got a great future regardless of what she wants to do, but I know she loves singing and I know she continues to sing for the rest of her life, regardless of what she does with it, whether she teaches or she performs or becomes a teacher at the university.” 

    Other friends and family expressed their pride of having seen Guillot’s progress throughout her college years. 

    “Michelle came in the year after I did, so I got to watch her grow as a musician and as a person,” said Theresa Corollo, a soprano in Delta Omicron. “I’m so proud of her.”

    Guillot herself was able to provide an in depth description of her past at the university. 

    “When I got to Southeastern, I had done a lot of choral singing but I had never had private voice lessons,” said Guillot. “So, private voice lessons made a world of difference.”

    Guillot shared her struggles before the program.

    “I’m student teaching,” said Guillot. “Normally, people wouldn’t do a recital, especially a senior recital while student teaching, but I was really trying to do it last semester, but last semester was really really busy, so I couldn’t do everything. I was like ‘Okay I’ll do it during student teaching, but I’ll do it early in the semester.’”

    Guillot planned for her recital to be on October 2, but student teaching proved to be more challenging.

    “I had anticipated it being challenging, but it was even more challenging,” said Guillot. “I had other things on my plate and it was just a lot, so we moved it to November 2, which was as far as we could move it. It was a struggle to practice for it, but it all came together really well. I’m really happy it all turned out well.”

    Guillot shared a description of her favorite song and her experience with it.

    “I think my favorite thing was getting able to do the ‘Second Breath,”’ said Guillot. “I learned it a couple years ago, but I didn’t do it in my junior recital and I haven’t gotten to do it for anything. I was like ‘This piece is so cool,’ and I spent so long doing it, so I was like ‘I’m going to do it’ and I was determined.”

    As a senior, Guillot reminisced about her time beginning at the university and how she grew throughout the years she spent practicing. 

    “I remember being the freshman watching the senior going ‘Wow, how will I ever sing like that’ and now they’re saying that about me,” said Guillot. 

    Guillot gave advice to aspiring singers as well.

    “Even though its very difficult, practice every day and keep taking lessons with a vocal coach,” said Guillot. “It’s very important and don’t get down when you listen to other people and you think you aren’t there yet or you will never get there because even tonight. I saw one of my underclassmen and they said, ‘Wow that’s amazing, I’m going to go practice.’ Always welcome the support because you need the support. You can’t do alone. Keep persevering, and it’ll all get better and better.”

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