Wichita State’s annual Concerto-Aria Honors Concert took place Tuesday night at the Miller Concert Hall, showcasing the talents of six selected soloist upperclassmen and graduate students, performing a variety of music with the Wichita State University Symphony Orchestra backing them up.

The show’s program began with the world premiere of a piece titled, “And We All Waited,” composed by Dr. J.A. Kawarsky, professor of composition at Rider University. As it was explained by the piece’s conductor, Mark Laycock, “And We All Waited” was inspired by the recent tragedies, like the shooting in Connecticut, as one artist’s statement about how somethings need to be changed in this world, but instead we tend to keep waiting, when we should make change happen. The piece itself boasted a wide variety of emotional states and was indeed a fine example of expression in such harsh times.

Dr. Kawarsky was amongst the audience to hear his music come to extraordinary life by the orchestra and it’s always a pleasure to see a satisfied creator of his own work.

The next portion of the show featured the student soloists, beginning with senior Brian Simpson, passionately playing his string bass to the first movement of Karl Ditters von Dittersdorf’s “Bass Concerto.” Graduate student Mirella Gable handled the French horn for Paul Dukas’ whimsical piece titled “Villanelle.”

Pianist Guenhwa Lee masterfully handled Igor Stravinsky’s “Concerto for Piano and Wind Instruments.” The instrumental soloists closed with senior violist Rosemarie Barney performing the first movement of Hindemith’s “Der Schwanendreher” (1935).

Two singing selections for the evening were Italian librettos, performed by graduate students Andrew Simpson and Kendra Rios. Simpson’s powerful bass-baritone voice was utilized to great effect for the song “Il lacerato spirito” from Giuseppe Verdi’s opera “Simon Bocccanegra.” Rios’ fine soprango voice handled Pietro Mascagni’s “Voi lo sapete” from the “Cavalleria Rusticana,” which gathered a lovely bouquet of flowers.

For the closing song for the evening, Laycock once again conducted the orchestra in a rousing rendition of George Gershwin’s classic, “An American in Paris.” All performances for the evening gathered a much deserved round of applause. This year’s Concerto-Aria Honors Concert displayed a fine amount of talents and expressions through the majestic scope of music. A piece of paper included in the program detailed that CDs of the performances are available for purchase for those wanting to relive the experience or for the very first time. With a line-up like this, it’s an offer you can’t refuse.