VSU's Two Springfields: Recital Appeals to Jazz and Classical Fans

VALDOSTA -- Valdosta State University’s Department of Music will host joint faculty recitals at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 30. The performances are free of charge and open to the public.

During his portion of the recital, pianist David Springfield will play “Solace” by Scott Joplin and “Not To Be,” an original composition. He will be joined by saxophonist Dr. Joren Cain, associate professor of saxophone and director of the New Jazz Ensemble at VSU, and students Trent Harper on bass and Mason Davis on drums on “Magnolia Triangle” by James Black and “Jazz Crimes” by Joshua Redman.

“In addition to teaching, all of the Music faculty are active performers,” he shared. “The faculty recitals are our chance to share our music with the audience and hopefully demonstrate good performing for our students.”

David Springfield serves as director of the Jazz Studies program, directs the student Jazz Ensemble, and teaches jazz piano and courses in improvisation, jazz arranging, and jazz history. A member of the Music faculty for 10 years, he enjoys helping his students become better musicians by sharing his knowledge and experience with them. He also plays trombone.

“I’ve played piano for 30 years,” he said. “My mother played the piano, and we had one in the house, so I was always playing it while growing up, even before I started formal lessons.”

During her portion of the recital, pianist Maila Springfield will be joined by Tugce Bryant on cello on “Le Grand Tango” by Astor Piazzolla. Performing Andre Jolivet’s “Concertino for Trumpet, Piano, and String Orchestra,” she will be joined by student Teal Ewer on trumpet and a string orchestra comprised of university string faculty and their students. Dr. Kenneth Kirk, professor of music and VSU Opera conductor, will conduct the string orchestra.

“I look forward to the mystery of what is going to happen onstage,” she said. “Each concert, whether it’s a rehearsal or a live performance, is never the same.”

Maila Springfield teaches accompanying piano to majors and works primarily with instrumentalists and singers, accompanying them for recitals and performances. She enjoys helping her students gain patience and self-motivation and encourages them to always strive, with each practice session, to bring a piece “to a higher level than before.” She has played piano for “at least 40 years.”

Thursday’s faculty recital will be held in Whitehead Auditorium, on the first floor of the university’s Fine Arts Building, located at the intersection of Brookwood Drive and Oak Street.

Contact David Springfield at daspring@valdosta.edu or Maila Springfield at mlspring@valdosta.edu to learn more.

Visit www.valdosta.edu/music/bios/springfield and www.valdosta.edu/music/bios/maila and www.valdosta.edu/music/bios/cain and www.valdosta.edu/music/bios/kirk to read more about the musicians.

Upcoming Concerts:
• At 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 4, VSU’s Department of Music will host a faculty recital featuring Joren Cain on saxophone.
• At 10 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 14, the Valdosta Symphony Orchestra will conduct a youth concert.
• At 8 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 15, the Valdosta Symphony Orchestra will officially kick off its 2012-2013 season.