Spotlight on... Elizabeth Hirsch '11

Author: Emma Stanford

Hirsch, along with Siobhan O'Malley '10 and Hilary Cunningham '12, won the 2009 Alan Carter Chamber Music Competition. Their trio of flute, bassoon and clarinet performed Monday April 13 in Le Chateau Grand Salon. Emma Stanford sat down with Hirsch to discuss the trio's success.

The Campus: So tell me about the group. How did you get started?
Elizabeth Hirsch: The magic began when we took a class last semester called "Performing Chamber Ensemble" with [Assistant Professor of Music] Larry Hamberlin. It was a fairly large class, and during the first class we filled out a survey of our level of playing and our experience. Based upon that and the instruments we played, he assigned everyone to groups. He matched us up in a group together. We worked really well together, so we decided to audition for the chamber music competition.

TC: What did you play, and how did you choose what to play?
EH: Basically, Professor Hamberlin gave us a selection of a few pieces at the beginning of the first semester, and we chose to play a trio by Flor Peeters. We auditioned with that piece, which is a really nice trio. The first movement is sort of a moderate tempo, the second is a fairly slow tempo that is more expressive, and the last movement is very fast, so it shows off all aspects of our playing and technique. Then, we chose two additional pieces to play after we won the competition: a trio by Jacques Ibert and then a Mozart piece.

TC: When you were choosing the music, was there a theme you were trying to get across, or was it more random?
EH: We wanted to incorporate different genres of music: a very traditional and beautiful Mozart piece, a modern Flor Peeters trio, and a very up-beat piece by Jacques Ibert. Peeters composed the trio in the early 20th century, so it is more modern but contains very classical elements as well.

TC: What are the advantages of playing in such a small group?
EH: Well, I think that being in a small ensemble without a conductor taught us to work well together and to become really attentive to the music. It certainly has improved my musical ability. We also spent a lot of time together and have all become close friends.

TC: Do you have any plans to keep playing together?
EH: I definitely want to, but I'm studying in Italy next semester. But
when I return in the spring, hopefully we can reunite the group.

TC: What's the hardest part of being in this kind of ensemble?
EH: I'd have to say figuring out times that we were all available to practice.

TC: How much did you practice??
EH: During the first semester, since this was our class, we would meet at least three hours a week. Each week we would perform for the class that met twice a week. Every ensemble in the class performed once a week. The entire class was made up of all different types of musicians, so Professor Hamberlin would critique us and help us a lot, as would the students. It was interesting to hear the input of other musicians who play different instruments. There were many different types of interesting groups, one of which was a trio composed of a pianist, violinist and a singer.

TC: Was it nerve-wracking performing in class?
EH: Not really. Everyone has to perform, so we were all in the same situation. Even though the three of us have years of experience performing, it is a different situation when you perform and then are immediately critiqued. But, you get over your fears once you have to do it every single week.

TC: What other musical groups are you involved in?
EH: I'm in the orchestra in which I also play the piccolo, and I sometimes perform in the flute choir. Siobhan is also in the orchestra, and she's actually a music and philosophy double major. Hilary is in a band, in which she plays all different instruments; she plays the piano and saxophone too. Hilary and I both play varsity sports (she plays tennis and I play golf). I think that's what's great and unique about Middlebury - we have the opportunity to participate in so many different activities.

TC: You play the flute. Do you get to lead the ensemble?
EH: Usually I get to lead and start us off at the beginning of a piece and then cut us off at the end of the movements, but sometimes Hilary or Siobhan's music begins before mine. Also, the bassoon often has a bass line and sort of keeps the beat, so in that respect I think Siobhan keeps the music in order. In our music, the melodies and highlighted themes are evenly distributed.

TC: Any power struggles?
EH: No. We had some difficulties with finding practice times and keeping each other on the ball and focused on preparing, but we got along very well. Drama free!