Senior Recital Interview: Robby Napoli

Director Robby Napoli's senior recital is a mere ten days away, so we thought we'd ask him a few questions about it! Check it out below:

It’s finally senior year! How’re you feeling about that?
“Y’know, it’s really a mixed-bag of emotions, as I’m sure you could imagine. Lots of exciting moments, lots of lasts, and a lot of great memories are coming up this year, not to mention some great opportunities. I’m very sad to be leaving my friends at school, but I know we’ll still be around each other, so I’m not too concerned about that.”
Besides your recital, what are you most excited about this year?
“I’m incredibly excited about Lux’s upcoming concert at the end of the Fall semester in December. We get to sing on Music, Gettysburg’s Christmas Offering with Dr. Brent Talbot, who I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know relatively well through my time at Gettysburg. Getting to collaborate with him and with the Gettysburg Children’s Choir, who I interned for last year, really brings things full-circle for me.”
What’s been your favorite experience studying music in college?
“I think just getting to nerd out about music with various friends and professors. I’ll never forget sitting in Dr. [Avner] Dorman’s office showing him a Purcell piece for choir -- I think we spent about 20 minutes just going crazy over how innovative it was for its time.”
Okay, so, recital time. Let’s start with the easy question. When and where is your recital?
“It’s on Sunday October 28, at 2:30pm in Paul Recital Hall at Gettysburg College!”
What’s your favorite piece on your recital?
“I think it’s a tie between I Hear an Army by Samuel Barber and Flight by Craig Carnelia. I Hear an Army is just this raw onslaught of emotion spurred on by World War II, so you can imagine the passion and conflict in that piece, and Flight is a completely different type of style. It’s a cabaret piece that I’m singing with one of my best friends, Rick Hale, about going out into the world and finding a new life, searching for change, no matter what it takes."
How has the recital process been for you? What did you have to do to prepare, and how do you feel about it all?
“It’s been pretty fun! The planning process actually started a bit less than a year ago. That was when I started planning repertoire, thinking about collaborators - all that kind of stuff. Then once I’d finalized my rep, I practiced and memorized mostly everything over the summer when I wasn’t working with Lux, and started writing my program notes. I continued finalizing those as I went through the semester and turned them in at my hearing, at which I performed the majority of my recital pieces for my panelists, who passed me, allowing me to plan my dress rehearsal, create a poster for the recital, and all of those final details and things.”
If there’s only one thing you want audience members to get out of your recital, what would it be?
“Honestly, I just want them to find something to enjoy. I love getting to share moments with my friends and family, and while solo singing definitely is not my favorite thing in the world to do, getting the opportunity to celebrate a milestone on the way to graduation with them a bit after the recital is very special.”

Robby's recital is on Sunday, October 28, at 2:30pm in Paul Recital Hall at the Sunderman Conservatory of Music.