Saturday, March 23rd, 2024
Students are handy with lyrics
By Abigail Miller
Photo by Paige Sutter/The Daily Standard
McKenna Will signs 'firework' during her performance of Katy Perry's "Firework."
CELINA - Wright State University-Lake Campus American Sign Language students performed a medley of songs from "Dancing Queen" to "Old Time Rock and Roll" on Friday at their first concert in half a decade.
About 30 concertgoers enjoyed the free show at James F. Dicke Hall that was hosted by American Sign Language instructor Jodi Pierstorff and six of her students.
Students articulated a flurry of signs with their hands, translating the lyrics of the pop songs blasting through the PA system during the roughly hourlong concert.
"We haven't had one since before COVID," Pierstorff said. "They're nervous, but they are excited. This is a new experience for them."
Pierstorff said the students chose their own songs and had to practice for a couple of months to get the performances right.
Photo by Paige Sutter/The Daily Standard
Class instructor Jodi Pierstorff signs "rock and roll" during her performance of Bob Seger's "Old Time Rock and Roll."
"They practiced, you know, they had to put it in ASL and they are amazing," she said. "They practiced for me in class and I cried. I mean, really, I was (crying)."
Pierstorff performed a couple of songs, as did her students Nikki Schmidt, Hannah Ranly, Glenda Boomershine, Alanna Gray, Brock Walley, Braelyn Ashmore, McKenna Will and Allie Gray.
"We have four courses out here (at Lake Campus)," Pierstorff said. "There's a minor in Dayton, but we teach courses one to four out here. I've had them, the ones that are in (level) four, I've had them since the beginning. So, I'm very proud."
A few deaf community members were in attendance, and Pierstorff said they are very supportive of her students.
"They love coming to it," she said. "Just for the simple fact that they're very supportive of the hearing students because they're learning their language."
Photo by Paige Sutter/The Daily Standard
Audience members applaud Glenda Boomershine's performance of Elevation Worship's "Trust in God."
They may not be able to hear the music or words, but it's like they're telling a story on their hands, she added.
"So they're just excited to see them learning their language, and they don't care if they make mistakes," she pointed out.
Pierstorff hopes this is the first of many ASL events on campus.
"We used to have them every year," she said. "I'm hoping this will start getting people excited again and see that they're so much fun."
Photo by Paige Sutter/The Daily Standard
Nikki Schmidt smiles as the audience applauds after her performance of Cheap Trick's "I Want You to Want Me" during an American Sign Language concert at Wright State University-Lake Campus on Friday evening.
Photo by Paige Sutter/The Daily Standard
Brock Walley signs "beautiful" during his and classmate Alanna Gray's performance of Coldplay's "Yellow."
Photo by Paige Sutter/The Daily Standard
Hannah Ranly dances in between verses of ABBA's "Dancing Queen."
