Zoe Strickland, Editor-in-Chief

Many years of music study and a working knowledge of three instruments led up to music composition major Jessica McCutchen’s senior music recital. McCutchen, who plays piano, violin and flute, has spent the last four years honing her composition and music playing abilities.

The pieces performed during the recital span McCutchen’s time at Western — from “Reflections,” the solo piano performance that McCutchen first composed in 2013 and revised in 2014, to “Antumbra,” written in 2018 — the newest solo piece from McCutchen.

Of the eight pieces performed during her June 1 recital, McCutchen’s favorites are “Antumbra” and “The Marionette.” The latter was performed with McCutchen and Dr. Carlos Velez on flute, and music major Emily Delziel on piano.

“‘Antumbra’ is a piece about transition and seeing where life takes me,” said McCutchen, who also performed the piece at the “Elegant Evening of Piano Music” event on May 2. “It’s a solo piano piece, so it’s me and the piano telling a story. It’s about leaving this place I’ve made a home and leaving people I love to go off and chase my dreams.”

“‘The Marionette’ was written out of frustration due to the lack of technical challenge in pieces I was playing in ensemble classes,” McCutchen said. “Instead of festering over something I had no control over, I went home and wrote. Getting to perform it with my flute/composition professor, Dr. Velez made it more special.”

While the recital both began and ended with a McCutchen as a solo pianist, that’s far from what was displayed in the duration of the evening. The bulk of the recital consisted of compositions that were also played by numerous students throughout the music program. For some pieces, like “A Life to Remember,” “Dawn” and “Derailing Circus,” McCutchen was among those playing. However, pieces like “Procrastination Waltz” and “Knock Knock Go Away,” were solely played by her peers.

“Hearing my compositions being played by others is the strangest feeling,” said McCutchen. “It’s like someone saying your thoughts, which can be beautiful or it can be heartbreaking. I invest so much time and effort composing a piece. I make sure what I write has a purpose. When I give it to a performer, it’s like I am giving them a part of myself to share with the world. Hearing someone else articulate your thoughts and your emotions is overwhelming and beautiful. It’s sharing who I am through other people.”

As for what’s next for the graduating musician, she plans to continue her education: “I plan on getting my masters and doctorate. I really love school.”

Contact the author at journaleditor@wou.edu

Photo by: Zoë Strickland