When browsing through UNH students' musical interests via Facebook, favorites usually include rock, rap, pop and country. For most students, classical music is not the sound they crave.
Christopher Hill, first-year director of the Orchestras at the University of New Hampshire, wants to try to change this by teaching students about classical music, starting with the UNH Symphony Orchestra's concert this Sunday, Oct. 19.
"Our job as musicians is to do a better job at educating," said Hill.
At 2 p.m., an hour before the concert begins, Hill will lead a discussion about the pieces and how they were composed. This dialogue will aid in the audience's experience throughout the awaited show.
"With classical music you have to decipher the code," said Julie Gerhardt, president of the UNH Symphony Orchestra. "This music can be more difficult than others to understand, [so] you have to listen more carefully."
Similar to rap and rock music, the pieces Hill will be directing relate to everyday lives and struggles. The only difference is the absence of lyrics.
"One of the pieces depicts the duality of war," said Hill. "It is a melancholy, majestic and haunting piece that was written during World War II. It is very relatable nowadays with our world."
In his first concert at UNH, Hill wants to reach out to the community. He is very passionate about students enjoying the music, so he strives only for the best from the talented musicians he directs.
"His potential [as a director] is unbelievable," said Gerhardt. "Chris demands and expects excellence at a high level while being encouraging at the same time."
Hill's passionate directing is meant to make his musicians shine through more than he already sees it.
"These musicians are capable of doing anything," said Hill. "I am very impressed with the talent. Now it is just about releasing their potential."
The musicians in the UNH Symphony Orchestra auditioned for their place in the ensemble. All range from freshmen to seniors, as well as a mix of majors.
"People would be surprised," said Hill, "we have music majors to math and engineering majors."
Besides pulling students from different majors, Hill would like to attract all kinds of people to the concert on Sunday afternoon.
"Arts are considered to be endangered," said Hill. "We need to cultivate our audience and show them that music is related to everything."
Music, even classical, can be related to history, communications, politics. Gerhardt said music can even be linked to athletics.
"Musicians need to be on top of their game," said Gerhardt. "You need to train when playing an instrument. The whole orchestra comes together as a team for the big game -the concert."
The concert will be performed on Sunday, Oct. 19 at 3 p.m. in the Johnson Theater in the PCAC.
"It is a chance to immerse yourself in a completely different world," said Hill, "especially with the depression of the financial downturn."
The price of the concert is free and should be an eye and ear opening experience.
"It is a chance to see what classical music is really about," said Gerhardt.
"[Classical music] serves as a different cultural hitch," Hitch said. "It is not the snobbery that people think it is; it makes you think. This will all be set in a more intimate experience."
Classical music has a reputation for being stuck up, but this is something that reaching out and educating will solve, said Gerhardt and Hill, who enjoy genres outside the classical mold. Gerhardt admitted favoring the popular style of country, while Hill accepts techno as a preferred musical pastime.
"Attending this show is just about opening peoples' eyes to what classical music is really about," said Hill.
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