Sara Rohner will be presenting Bach compositions on the viola on Wednesday, April 23 at 11:30am in the Heiner building. Guest appearances will include Judith Messenger and George Mustoe, both performing pieces on the flute.
Rohner said this recital is “a culmination of viola lessons from last quarter,” studying Bach this quarter and on the cello in previous years.
Rohner has been enamored with music, starting with the piano and taking lessons for more than 10 years. She holds a roster of other instruments, including the violin, double-bass, classical guitar, ukulele, and wind instruments.
“I’ve done it all my life,” Rohner remarked. “It’s been a dream of mine for many years to perform.”
Rohner has aspirations of joining the Seattle Symphony, or the more local Bellingham Symphony. This upcoming performance contributes to her practice for potential pieces for professional symphonies.
“I’ve been given a free hand for 50 minutes,” Rohner said.
Needing to fill out the performance, Rohner invited guest musicians Messenger and Mustoe to join her. Rohner worked with Messenger in a previous internship, performing pieces from The Messiah at the Stafholt Health and Rehabilitation center in Blaine.
“She played the heck out of the flute,” she recalled with a laugh.
Additionally, George Mustoe, a paleontology professor from WWU, was “so encouraging” towards Rohner’s passions with the viola.
Rohner discussed how many people have supported her, especially the support centers in Blaine and Bellingham, including the Blaine Senior Center.
When asked why she chose Whatcom Community College, Rohner replied, WCC has “always fascinated me. I always wondered what it’d be like to be a student here.” She recalled how when she first decided to join, she walked into the Learning Center and got started there: “It’s a learning paradise to me.”
