Nik Divall's (Many) Spring Semester Performances

Oberlin Junior, Nik Divall, has amassed another impressive list of performances in a single semester. Between his work on the guitar and his activities on the theorbo and, now also, the archlute, his solo and ensemble outings have been a remarkable testament to what is possible when personal drive and the delight of musical collaboration merge.

I’ll list his spring semester activities in chronological order, with occasional photos. Each entry will indicate who he played with, the composers represented, where the performance took place, and what instrument he was playing.

2/11 Musikos Collective, with Jasper de Boor violin and Luka Stefanovic cello (Castello) Kulas Recital Hall -Theorbo

Jasper de Boor violin and Luka Stefanovic cello, with Nik Divall on theorbo

2/26 Accompanied Chapel Choir (Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child) First Church, Oberlin -Guitar

3/4 Adelaide International Classical Guitar Competition entry deadline (he made the semi-finals; competition is in July) -Guitar

3/15 Junior Recital (Bach, Barrios, Piazzolla, Assad) Fairchild Chapel -Guitar

Nik during his Junior Recital

3/18 Tuesday Musical Club Competition (Bach, Barrios, Assad) University of Akron -Guitar (He won).

3/30 Guitar Ensemble Concert w/soprano Mae Harrell (Strozzi) Kulas Recital Hall -Theorbo

Mae Harrell, soprano, with Nik on theorbo

2/26 Oberlin Baroque Orchestra (Vivaldi, Valentini, Corelli and Drese) Warner Concert Hall -Theorbo

Oberlin Baroque Orchestra, with Nik on theorbo

3/5 Musikos Collective, Daniel Knapp Dir., dance piece (Heaventree of Stars Hung with Humid Nightblue Fruit by Gabriella Smith) Warner Concert Hall -Guitar

Nik plays guitar for dancers in the Musikos Collective

2/4 Steven Cozzuli trumpet recital, with Sara Baunoch, guitar (Pontes) Warner Concert Hall -Guitar

5/4 Oberlin Baroque Ensemble (Pergolesi Stabat Mater) Fairchild Chapel -Archlute

Oberlin Baroque Ensemble with Nik on archlute

4/15 Mae Harrell voice recital (Strozzi) Kulas -Theorbo

4/19 Rissa Biddie voice recital, with Julia Alexander, mezzo-soprano & Luka Stefanović, viola da gamba (Monteverdi) Birembaum Hall -Theorbo

4/11 Cathy Meints & Michael Lynn lecture recital [faculty] (Ortiz, Handel, Hotteterre) Kendal at Oberlin -Theorbo

5/8 Jasper de Boor violin jury with William Rehwinkel, harpsichord and Luka Stefanovic, cello (Westhoff, Geminiani) Stull Recital Hall -Archlute

5/21 Tuesday Musical Club Competition Winner’s Concert (Barrios, Assad) University of Akron -Guitar

In addition to these performances, Nik had a master class lesson with visiting guest Bokyung Byun and took sporadic theorbo lessons with Brian Kay. He also had a special lesson with Juilliard lute professor Daniel Swenberg when he dropped by.

Nik with Bokyung Byun

Daniel Swenberg, lute with Nik on Archlute (thanks to violin professor Edwin Huizinga for this photo)

After a busy semester, a busy summer follows. Nik’s summer plans currently look like this:

5/28-6/10 Tafelmusik Baroque Summer Institute, Toronto -Theorbo/Archlute

6/12-18 Celedonio Romero Guitar Institute, Oklahoma City University, OK (by special invitation from Pepe Romero) -Guitar

7/1 Solo Recital for the Classical Guitar Society of Sydney, Mosman Art Gallery, Sydney, AUS -Guitar

7/12-16 Adelaide International Classical Guitar Competition, Adelaide, AUS -Guitar

Bravo, Nik on setting the bar so very high in our guitar studio! This list represents some exemplary music-making!!