UW-Whitewater’s Department of Music music hosted its first of a series of performances for the 2024-25 season in Light Recital Hall on Tuesday. The performance was called Sonict, which, according to UW-W music professor Matthew Sintchak, is a made-up word. Sintchak and music professor Jeff Herriott made up the word around 20 years ago for their contemporary music concerts.
This Sonict was a saxophone-based performance featuring guest musicians Drew Whiting, Kirstin Ihde and Katherine Decker.
“What we try to do with these events is try to open up people’s minds about what music can sound like,” Sintchak said.
Leading up to the concert Sintchak and the guest artists hosted a masterclass to showcase UW-Whitewater student musicians’ talents. The two soloists for the masterclass were Ashlyn Syratt and Alex Martin. A quartet of Ashlyn Syratt, Anton Saucedo, Mitch Falcon and Dawson France took the stage. Martin and Saucedo both performed on soprano saxophones, Syratt on alto saxophone, Falcon on tenor saxophone and France on bari saxophone. These students got the opportunity to play in front of Whiting and gain professional feedback.
Sintchak continued to mention the timing of this concert was not accidental and was chosen in hopes of sparking his students’ musical passions.
“It’s going to be a great performance, and I am hoping to expand the audiences’ ears to what music can be. Educationally, I am looking forward to sparking students’ interests in music, performance, practice and learning,” Sintchak said.
Martin, a soprano saxophonist soloist, expressed her excitement for Sonict and the rest of her musical year.
“I’m super excited about Sonict,” Martin said. “Having Drew here is fantastic. He brings in music from this time, and, as far as this year, I’m very optimistic for this music program, we have tons of new people who are so dedicated and the talent increase is insane.”
Looking forward to the music program’s year, there is one big event Sintchak is excited for.
“Our symphonic wind ensemble is going to Carnegie Hall in March,” Sintchak said. “The last time they played there was in March 202, and within a couple days after the performance, the hall was closed because of COVID.”
Whiting was very enthusiastic about his passion for music.
“I love the music. I feel very passionately about performing music from living composers, I enjoy more modern and new music and I enjoy being connected to the people, music is about that connection.”
Sintchak also emphasized a broader goal for the program that he holds dear to his heart as an educator.
“I try to make people become better musicians, artists and people. It all depends on my students’ goals, whether they want to be a teacher or performer. I just want to help them be the best version of themselves they can be.”
Stay informed for future musical events, including more Sonict concerts in the fall and spring with collaboration with students and faculty, a concert in spring for student composers, another guest artist concert next semester with a duo group and a guest artist concert with alumnus Nick Zoulek.
