In the midst of finals week, Armstrong Auditorium hosted students of Imperial Academy and Herbert W. Armstrong College for their fall 2011 instrumental recital. The recital featured the orchestra program of IA and the private music program of HWAC. Fellow students, staff, parents, and several people from the community attended the event.

The recital started out with the Imperial wind orchestra performing The Star-Spangled Banner, followed by performances from the beginning strings ensemble, and the philharmonic orchestra. Many students in the orchestra are also enrolled in private lessons and performed individual pieces as well.

After an hour of performances, college students in the audience pulled out notecards to recite memory scriptures for their final exams during the 15-minute intermission. But once the theater lights were dimmed, everyone’s attention was again brought to the stage as the older, more advanced instrumentalists performed individually on the piano, flute, clarinet, violin, cello and oboe. The night’s performances proved the hard work of the students was paying off, as audience members voiced the difference they noticed from previous recitals. The last performance ended roughly at 9 p.m., and students hurriedly congratulated performers as they scurried to their respective dorms to study for their last finals.

Recitals are held during finals week every semester, and while this may seem like an inconvenience, it highlights two of the educational objectives of HWAC: to develop a well-rounded, service-oriented personality, and to become a cultured individual. Having the recital during finals week gives students an opportunity to learn to better manage their time, serve their fellow classmates by supporting them, and appreciate the art of fine music. Ultimately, it fulfills the first purpose of AC noted in the HWAC catalog: “AC presents a balanced education, with emphasis on character development and right culture …. It is about helping develop the whole personality.”