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The CSC Eagle Newspaper – Chadron, NE
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The CSC Eagle Newspaper – Chadron, NE
Lifestyles

Flute recital whistles through Sandoz Center

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Lauren Stephens, graduate of Chadron, plays the flute at her recital Saturday in the Chicoine Atrium of the Mari Sandoz Center. —Photo by Taylor Shortall
Lauren Stephens, graduate of Chadron, plays the flute at her recital Saturday in the Chicoine Atrium of the Mari Sandoz Center. —Photo by Taylor Shortall

A flute’s light and airy sound floated through the Sandoz Center Chicoine Atrium 3 p.m., Saturday, during a recital performed by CSC adjunct instructor Lauren Stephens and the CSC Flute Ensemble, presented by the Chadron State College Department of Music.

Stephens led the recital with four songs that alternated between light and twittering, and slow and drawn out.  She executed two songs in duet with pianist Brooks Hafey, one song solo, and one song with guitarist Ryan Head.

Stephens said she had picked three of her songs over the summer. They were songs that she learned a long time ago and was itching to play again, she said. However, she was convinced to play the song “Histoire Du Tango” by Head.

She said the song was “one of my favorites” and described it as “dancing in your seat” fun.

Head got the audience’s attention when he started the song by slapping his guitar like a drum.

Stephens wasn’t the only one to take the stage that afternoon. Sophia Zhang, 20, sophomore of Taiyuan, China, performed a duet with Hafey before intermission.

“We grew,” Stephens said, after intermission when she was joined by the CSC Flute Ensemble. “My dad said the more flutes the better and I agree.”

The ensemble included Zhang; Molly O’Connell, 19, sophomore of St. Onge, South Dakota; Megan Anderson, 19, freshman of Hill City, South Dakota; and Elspeth Moon, 19, freshman of Gordon.

They performed four songs together including “Giga,” “Sheep May Safely Graze,” “Menuetto,” and “Mississippi Rag.” Stephens said they chose those songs because of their ability to reach out to the audience without being too long.

Lauren Stephens has been playing the flute since age 10, a time when she was trying to imitate her older sister who has since given up the instrument. She has spent seven years at CSC as an adjunct instructor, teaching flute. She also has taught music at middle and high school levels in Nebraska and Ohio. Stephens keeps an active concert schedule and frequently performs as a guest with a multiple CSC groups.

The recital was free and open to the public.