Monica Germino

Saturday night I attended a concert in my school's new Concert Hall as an audience member. I saw Monica Germino, a violinist who plays some pretty interesting music. At our concert, she played 3 instrumensts; a traditional acoustic violin, an electric violin, and an adapted violin.

Not only did she play the violin but she sang while playing. It was very interesting to watch, and even more interesting to hear. Monica's program is the kind of performance that you have to see in order to experience her music. She had visuals and soundtracks. She had a short film as she did one piece called "Bravery of Women". She starred in it as she sang and play on stage.

She is one of the leading artists to use electronics in her music. I've always been interested in electronic music ever since I heard Miles Davis' "Bitches Brew" where he played on an electric trumpet. The entire process of hooking up a pick up to an instrument that is normally used in a classical setting to the controls needed for the distortion and sounds.

After her performance, she gave a small Q&A session is which she answered her adaption of her aunt's violin into the instrument it is today. It involved an expensive process of hooking up a pick up, using viola strings, unquie tunings, guitar effects and controls. It was fascinating to hear about.

While the performance was unique and different, I'm not sure if I liked it. Some pieces I just didn't understand or just didn't like to sit through. However, it was an experience that I'm glad to have since I got to see music in a different setting.

My next concerts will be seeing some faculty members perform in a recital on Wednesday and a Musical Theatre concert on Sunday.