On Thursday, April 2nd, the Music program at the University of Michigan-Flint hosted a special Chamber Music Recital — opening with a celebration of Kwanzaa and closing with Daft Punk. Yes, really.
The showcase featured three ensembles — Woodwind, Percussion, and Steel Drum — and took place in French Hall’s first-floor lobby and recital hall.
The Woodwind Ensemble, directed by applied faculty member and flutist Caen Thomason-Redus, set the tone with Valerie Coleman’s Umoja, a rich, communal piece rooted in the first principle of Kwanzaa. The ensemble then traced a path through Mozart’s grand Serenade No. 10 before landing in Poulenc’s jazz-tinged, playful Divertissement.
The Percussion Ensemble, under the direction of applied faculty member and percussionist James Coviak, turned the hall into a textural landscape. A particular highlight: Haydn’s Bird Quartet finale reimagined entirely on drums and mallet instruments, proof that great melodies survive any translation. Ivan Trevino’s Watercolor Sun brought the set to a luminous close.
Finally, the Steel Drum Ensemble performed in the first-floor lobby, where Jordan Morrison’s Steam gave way to Coviak’s own arrangement of Daft Punk’s Get Lucky — a joyful and funky way to close out this special event.
Check out a highlight reel of the performance and a few snapshots from the night’s event.
