UWRF students perform in fall student convocation

On Friday, Nov. 5, the Abbott Concert Hall held the first student convocation of the fall semester. Three students, Autumn Linton on cello, Emma Petersen on flute, and Gavin Banick on percussion, performed their selected pieces to an open audience at noon.

The event, organized by the UW–River Falls Music and Stage and Screen Arts Department, was one of three convocations scheduled for the semester. Admission was open to the university community.

Student convocations are intended to provide a space for students to perform with few restrictions. Participation is not limited to music majors; the only requirement is permission from an applied instructor. Students sign up through a form on the university’s website, indicating their preferred performance date and instrument.

The first performances featured a variety of styles and tones. Linton’s cello piece carried soothing, melancholic chords that drew in the audience, while Banick’s percussion performance echoed like an explosive storm. Each song conveyed its own story, intention and mood.

When asked to describe her piece in one word, Petersen chose “intricate,” citing the “small, little details that go into playing that piece.” Audience members appeared to agree, as her runs had a sparkling tone and a whimsical overarching melody.

The final convocation of the semester was scheduled for Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, from noon to 1 p.m. in Abbott Concert Hall. By the time of publication, that event will have already taken place.

For more information on upcoming concerts and performances, contact the UW–River Falls Music and Stage and Screen Arts Department at music@uwrf.edu.