Elon University alumni Susan L. Hahn '09 and Katherine Thomas '08 took a trip back in time to perform together in Whitley Auditorium last week.
Hahn received a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education at Elon, then studied at the University of Louisville School of Music, where she got her Master's of Music in Vocal Performance. As a performer, Hahn is a soprano who usually sings Opera, classical music, cabaret and musical theater music.
Thomas, university accompanist at Elon, is studying at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro for her Doctor of Musical Arts Degree. At Elone she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Piano Performance before studying at Florida State University, where she received a Master's Degree in Vocal Accompanying.
Hahn and Thomas performed both classical music and musical theater songs. They had been planning the logistics of the recital since October. There are 15 pieces in the recital and eight of them are new.
“There is one that I performed in my undergraduate career that I never did in public so I’m really excited to present that one in public for the first time,” Hahn said. “There are also some songs from my graduate recital – six from there. Nothing that I’m singing that night will be things that I sang while I was at Elon.”
Thomas and Hahn hadn't seen each other since they graduated and were excited for their reunion and to play together in Whitley Auditorium once again.
“It’s a very happy reunion, she’s been all the way in Kentucky during her schooling,” Thomas said. “I’m excited to hear how her voice has grown since we graduated. It’s going to be exciting seeing us all grown up together.”
The pieces that Hahn and Thomas performed in the recital were chosen very strategically. According to Hahn, every set they played has its own theme.
Hahn hoped she would be able to convey a message to her audience with her music. She targeted two groups of people: students that will attend and professors and those she has worked with before.
“What I would like is for my audience to just feel for the hour we are there – that the only thing that matters is the music," Hahn said. "I want to make the audience feel that there isn’t any of the nonsense attached that’s happening in the world and just focus on the joy that music can bring.”
She also hopes her former professors are inspired by a returning student.
"I want to prove [to them] that all their teaching was worthwhile – is worthwhile," Hahn said. "For any of the students who come, I want them to really get the message that they can do anything as long as they work hard for it.”
Because the recital fell near Valentines Day, they performed many songs about love.
“The two big Shubert pieces at the first half are very passionate," Thomas said. "It’s perfect for the week and the end of the concert is a cabaret piece in English called ‘Amor,’ which is the word for love and it’s kind of lighthearted; it’s kind of about passing the love along whenever and wherever you go. Distribute love wherever you go.”
Hahn and Thomas were excited to share with some of their classmates, professors, colleagues and with students how far they have come and how the music they performed has enriched their life.
“To be able to go back to the university you graduated from and present a full recital, which is the dream –you get invited to go back and you get to perform,” Hahn said. “I was inspired by alumni recitals and now I get to be that person.”