Bridgewater, Va.- The Faculty Recital Anthony and Friends, led by Bridgewater College music instructor Anthony S. Cincotta II, incorporated various musical talents with experience internationally. The recital held Saturday, Sept. 21, welcomed a soprano, clarinetist, vibraphonist and several other performers to the stage.

Anthony S. Cincotta II, music instructor at Bridgewater College, began the recital by crediting his inspiration to University of Massachusetts Amherst faculty member Nadine Shank. Cincotta’s recital, titled Anthony and Friends, was inspired by Shank’s Nadine and Friends.

The first performer, Rachel Wallmann, accompanied Cincotta on the vibraphone to play Nemesis, composed by Andy Scott. Wallmann studies percussion at James Madison University. The vibraphonist is equipped with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Mansfield University of Education, according to the program.

The program also stated Wallmann performs with numerous groups at James Madison University and can be heard in recordings from the Mansfield University Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra.

Two Whitman Sketches, composed by Patrick Oswald, was performed by soprano Kristin Gavaza and pianist Larry Taylor.

Gavaza performs in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area and is a graduate of the George Mason Vocal Program. Gavaza is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Vocal Performance at JMU and often performs in competitions, according to the recital program. Currently performing with the Opera Theatre Department of JMU, Gavaza has been preparing for her graduate recital in April 2020.

Taylor is an Associate Professor of Music at Bridgewater College, teaching theory, history, piano and organ. Along with classical recitals, Taylor arranges and performs organ accompaniments to silent films. The program stated Taylor recently completed the composition of opera The Dickinsons of Amherst, his third collaboration with librettist Tom Noe.

Taylor explained the piece Epitaphe de Jean Harlow, composed by Charles Koechlin, was a tribute to Jean Harlow–a star of the early 1930s “talkie era” films.

The piece was performed by flutist and Assistant Professor of Music Education and Flute at Bridgewater College, Vimari Colón-León, along with Taylor and Cincotta.

A Puerto Rico native herself, Colón-León holds an artist diploma in flute performance from Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music in addition to a Ph.D. in Music Education from the University of Miami. Colón-León also holds a Bachelor and Master’s degree in Music Education.

The piece tiny little pyramids was composed by Harrisonburg, Va. composer and performer Mason Moy. Cincotta performed the piece with trumpetist Christine Carrillo, who also serves as the Director of Instrumental Music and Chair of the Department of Music at Bridgewater College.

In addition to holding a Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Music from the University of Texas at Austin, Carrillo also holds dual Bachelor of Music degrees in Music Education and Trumpet Performance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Duo Sonata, composed by Gregory Wanamaker, was performed by Taylor and clarinetist Noah Karkenny. Karkenny is a senior clarinet performance major at JMU who has performed with the Wind Symphony, Symphony Orchestra and various other ensembles.

Lastly, Cincotta announced he wanted to thank all of the recital’s performers with a piece titled Respectfully Yours, composed by Scott. Cincotta was accompanied by Taylor on the piano.