"One Girl's Emotions" offers unique musical experience

Emma Epstein Guest Writer

Tables draped in white tableclothes, and adorned with roses and chocolates glowed with candlelight as families, parents, and students enjoyed a relaxing evening of cabaret on the second floor of the Students’ Building. Singer Sarah De Filippe, ’06, saxophonist Tom Ferguson, ’07, guitarist Andrew Lipow, ’07, pianist Eliza Langley-Wilbur, ’05, and drummer Patrick Litterst, ’07, performed a cabaret show entitled One Girl’s Emotions on October 2.

De Filippe organized the event to expand the musical opportunities on campus. “I always knew that I wanted to sing and perform on campus, yet I felt there weren’t enough performance venues,” she said. “I chose to come to Vassar because it’s a place where students can create opportunities for themselves based on their own talents and desires, so I just decided to make my own.”

De Filippe hand-picked the musicians through the recommendation of jazz band director Jim Osborn. “We were all personally invited,” said Langley-Wilbur.

The ensemble practiced for 2-hour sessions during the weekends since early September. Although they do not currently have a name, they jokingly said that they are playing around with possibilities such as “The Filippe Five.” Song choice varied greatly, from jazz standards like “Can’t Help Lovin’ That Man of Mine” to pop hits such as “Girl’s Just Wanna Have Fun”.

“I chose these songs because they make me feel something when I sing them,” De Filippe said. “I want to encourage people to embrace the way life makes them feel.”

The group chose the event to coincide with Freshman Parents’ Weekend, as they wanted the show to be for both families and students. “Last year we had it during Parents’ Weekend in the spring and we had a great turnout,” De Filippe said.

The group consensus was that this year’s performance went especially well. “It was the best we could expect,” said Lipow.

De Filippe concurred: “I am so proud of everyone. I couldn’t have asked for better.”