A Bigger Living Room: The Fall Schubertiade

The 19th century Austrian composer Franz Schubert used to host friends and family in his home for informal concerts. In Schubert’s living room, he and others would perform pieces, still in their formative stages, in a relaxed setting among friends.

This past Sunday, students at Thomas Aquinas College, California, partook in a variation of that tradition at the semiannual “Schubertiade” in St. Cecilia Hall. The only difference, quipped Dr. Joseph Zepeda — tutor and director of the event — is that “our living room’s a little bigger.”

Before the program commenced, Dr. Zepeda took a moment to recall Angela Baird, a TAC student who — exactly 25 years earlier — spent the final hours of her life praying the Rosary and offering her pain for the unborn. He led the audience in the “Salve Regina” in her memory, after which the music commenced.

Performances included works by classical composers such as Mozart and Bach, the titular Schubert, and modern composers such as Joe Hisaishi. Performers presented instrumental pieces, vocal performances, duets, and ensemble efforts. Dr. Zepeda even joined in, accompanying two performances on the piano.

 “This year had a really nice variety of pieces, and students stepped up and performed some ambitious choices,” reflected Dr. Zepeda. “It was good variety and good quality.”