New TCU vocal students, most majoring in music education or vocal performance, donned their suits and dresses and walked on the stage at the PepsiCo Recital Hall on Thursday, August 29.

Hosted by Dr. Corey Trahan, director of the TCU Opera Studio, “New Faces in Concert” is most first-year students’ first opportunity to perform in front of the TCU public.

“They get to share an experience with their peers during the second week of school and it serves as platform to introduce our new students to current students, faculty, staff, parents, friends and community,” Trahan said. “It allows all of us the opportunity to watch the singers grow throughout their time at TCU.”

Of the 32 incoming first-year students, the largest incoming class in recent years, 23 performed at “New Faces in Concert.”

The performance consisted of four main segments. The first-year undergraduate students took the stage to start the recital.

Current vocal students Jordan Riek and Jae Medlin introduced each performer before they sang, accompanied by Dr. Ceclilia Lo-Chien Kao and Edward Newman, professional collaborative pianists. Some sang show tunes, others classical operatic arias. Mezzo-soprano Jaydn Thompson sang a piece by Brahms and said she is excited to grow vocally at TCU.

“I wanted to go somewhere where I didn’t feel like I stood out, like, ‘Oh, she really likes music,'” Thompson said. “I wanted everyone to have that same type of passion and I definitely found that place and that home here at TCU.”

Next, two first-year transfer students performed followed by four first-year graduate students, all four anticipating their major roles in TCU Opera‘s productions of “Sweeney Todd,” “The Pirates of Penzance” and “Le Nozze di Figaro.”

Despite what the recital’s title may suggest, many students and faculty have already interacted with the first-year vocal students in lessons, studio classes and vocal ensembles. Many in the audience also knew Courtney Parnitke, a first-year graduate student who is back in the College of Fine Arts after graduating from TCU with a degree in music education last May.

The final performer of the night was a familiar face to many students and faculty as well. Now a first-year artist diploma student who works with Dallas Opera’s outreach program, David Mejia graduated from TCU in May with his master’s in voice.

“I loved my last two years getting my master’s here at TCU and I just felt like for me, it wasn’t over yet,” Mejia said.

Mejia sang a vocally impressive aria for the tenor voice. Hearing the other new faces, Mejia said he is encouraged by the vocal offerings of all the incoming first-years that “just keep getting better and better.”

Trahan echoed this sentiment.

“I think the talent just keeps skyrocketing,” Trahan said. “Everybody up there has something special.”