In the realm of music, one of the hallowed practices is the recital. The Northwestern music department requires all of their students to participate in a senior recital in order to graduate. Hannah Jacobsma is the next senior to go through this process. Her recitalis on Oct. 23 in Christ Chapel.
During her recital, she will be performing four pieces on the clarinet, one as a duet, ranging from Mozart to Saint Saens. Two pieces that Jacobsma will play are “Sonata” by Paul Hildreth and “Solo de Concours” by Andre Messager, both as solos played on the clarinet. She is most looking forward to playing the Hildreth piece. She saidthat “it’s a really fun duet with the piano.”
Another piece titled “Tarentelle” by Saint Saens, will be a duet with fellow senior music major Clare Struck. Struck’s instrument of choice is the flute, and she will also have a recital later this semester with her sister.
Jacobsma has been playing the clarinet for 12 years since she was in grade five. Outside of the clarinet, she loves to play the horn or the piano. Students either in the music building or passing through can often find her in a practice room playing the piano or hanging out on the couches or practicing her variety of instruments.
As a music education major, Jacobsma loves sharing music with others. When asked about what she will do with her gift beyond graduation, she shared that she is eager to share her gift with another generation of music makers. Even though her instrument of choice for the recital is the clarinet, through her courses of brass, string and woodwind methods, she is well equipped for her career through NW’s music department as she learned how to play most instruments.
One of Jacobsma’s favorite ensembles to practice her craft in was the clarinet ensemble. She loved that ensemble because it was taught by the teacher that usually teaches her lessons with the clarinet.
One of her favorite memories from her time in the music department was going to Denmark with the A capella Choir, however. She experienced new music and new ways of playing that helped fuel her fire for sharing her gifts. Jacobsma also said that, “it was so fun to get to know people better, as well as travel out of the country, because I never have before.” She also stated that the NW music department takes the music majors on special trips every year that were a lot of fun.