Today, the class was able to see Dr. Kahan give a piano recital in the Performing Arts Center. I had heard about her accomplishments as a pianist, and I was excited to get the chance to hear her perform. Outside of attending student recitals, I have never been to a real piano concert before. Needless to say, I was flawed by Dr. Kahan’s talent. I took piano lessons for a few years when I was younger, and I can attest to the fact that even simple pieces can be difficult to learn. The beauty and complexity of all of the pieces, combined with the passion with which Dr. Kahan played, was moving to witness.

I’ve always loved classical music; it’s filled with a sense of beauty and elegance that inspires feelings of nostalgia for a past I’ve never lived in. In my own life, classical music has served as a source of inspiration for writing and drawing—a kind of background music for imagination. The Classical Connections concert demonstrated that classical music is as alive and important today as ever. I appreciated the fact that a modern piece was played along with the works of Bach, Brahms, and Mendelssohn to remind the audience that composing music is not just an art of the past. Joseph Prestamo’s Ballade, a powerful and intense piece, was exciting to listen to.

One of my favorite pieces was Ballade in F-sharp Major by Gabriel Fauré. I was familiar with the other classical composers, but not I have not heard a lot of Fauré’s work. This composition was gorgeous, rich, and moving from beginning to end. It was filled with beautiful harmonies and trills that created an almost wistful feeling. I was happy to discover a new composer, and I am excited to hear more of his music.

Watching Dr. Kahan play was an inspirational experience. Over the years, I unfortunately moved away from the piano when I got busy with school, and I haven’t played in quite some time. I realized that I miss it a lot, and I plan to start practicing again.