Students Delight in Classical Music and Competition

On Friday night in St. Frassati Student Center, the students and faculty of Thomas Aquinas College, New England, gathered to listen to the first concert of this year’s St. Vincent de Paul Lecture and Concert Series.

The Joyous Fire String Quartet graciously came to campus to perform a selection of works by Haydn and Mozart. “Playing music together always generates joy for us,” explained first violinist Kathy Andrew as she introduced the selected program. “We hope, through our performance, to elicit some of that same joyous fire in our listeners.”

One of the musicians introduced each piece, giving the audience an idea of its background, composition, and significance. As she introduced Mozart’s String Quartet in E-flat Major, Sabine Rhyne laughed, “We think he must have had as much fun writing it as we have playing it!” 

The music was engrossing and excellently performed, and the audience sat in rapt silence for the entirety of the concert, breaking its silence only with applause at the close of each piece. Music, much like contemplation or rest, engages the mind and soul without distraction, clearing and ordering everything within, making the concert an excellent way to close the week and refresh the mind. “The concert was so beautiful,” said Germaine Milligan (’29). “It’s wonderful to have the opportunity to be sitting in this beautiful place and hear live music written by the great composers. It’s inspiring, but simultaneously very calming and peaceful.”

Immediately following the concert, students enjoyed some light refreshments, then began an animated game of Trivial Pursuit. For hours, students challenged their tutors in a battle of common knowledge and fun facts until, ultimately, the latter emerged triumphant. 

More photos from the concert and Trivial Pursuit

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