Former NIC student performs in lobby recital

Former NIC student was featured in a lobby recital put on by the NIC Music Program in the North Lobby of Boswell Hall Tuesday.

The performance highlighted Robert Schumman’s piece “Fantasiestucke, Op. 12” played by Melody Puller on a grand piano.

Puller, who has been playing piano for over 30 years, said she started when her mother believed she could develop an interest in piano and was offered free lessons by the church organist.

“I was a normal kid,” Puller said. “I didn’t want to practice and it was frustrating but you get to a certain point where you think, ‘this is really amazing what we can do,’ the creative expression that can come out of an instrument or your voice.”

Puller studied at NIC as a freshman and sophomore and knew music instructor Gerard Mathes, as well as having been exposed to the lobby recitals put on by the music department throughout each semester.

“I knew about these lovely recitals,” said Puller. “I’ve been involved in them a couple of times and I was looking for a place to play informally and have a captive audience.”

The NIC music department typically uses these lobby recitals as a way to give students the experience of performing in front of a live audience.

“This was a special one today because we brought in a professional pianist,” said Bryan Hannaford, music instructor and director of bands. “This allows our students to see and hear how it’s supposed to really be done.”

Hannaford explained that those who participate are usually taking classes or lessons that require participation in a lobby recital during the semester.

“We’re in an environment where we can share what we’re working on and that’s what I think is really important about these lobby recitals,” Hannaford said. “People can come to these recitals and see this is something they want to be a part of.”

Lobby recitals are held once a month in the North Lobby of Boswell Hall.