Melissa Knapp Performed as Principal Oboist with Ithaca College Symphonic Band

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Melissa Knapp

ITHACA, NY (03/22/2012)(readMedia)-- A recent performance of the Ithaca College Symphonic Band, with Fayetteville resident Melissa Knapp as the ensemble's principal oboist, can be heard free On Demand at http://www.ithaca.edu/music/live/ondemand/20120228_symphonicband/. Conducted by Elizabeth Peterson, the symphonic band performed works by Paul Hindemith, John Mackey, Augusta Read Thomas and Christopher Marshall. A 2011 graduate of Fayetteville Manlius High School, Knapp is a freshman performance major in the Ithaca College School of Music.

"I feel very fortunate to be living at a time when On Demand web streaming is possible," Knapp said. "I want my friends and family back home to show up at my concert, but it's impossible for them to drive hundreds of mile. With web streaming, they don't have to be sitting in the same concert hall I am to hear my performance."

The biggest challenge in this performance, Knapp said, was switching the stylistic character between each piece.

"In the Hindemith symphony, the rhythms need to be very precise, and we have to keep the correct amount of spacing between notes so the music lines up perfectly. But in John Mackey's piece, the style is much more lyrical. We have to think more about each line of the music and consider the direction it's moving so we can get the powerful feeling of the music to come through."

Knapp credits several music teachers from her hometown for inspiring her to pursue a career in music, including her private oboe teacher Lynn Hamister, her high school band director Rebecca Bizup and her quintet coach Gerald Zampino.

"After graduating from Ithaca College in 2015, I'm planning on getting a master's degree in performance and then go on to play principal oboe in a well supported symphony."

The Ithaca College Symphonic Band performs a repertoire of traditional and contemporary music composed for a full concert band. The ensemble gives six concerts a year both on and off campus.

For more information, contact Keith Davis, assistant director of media relations, at (607) 274-1153 or kdavis@ithaca.edu.