By Michael Harman
Elm Staff Writer
Photos by Katie Despeaux
Students, you know this feeling: you skate by Syllabus Week and suddenly open up your planner to find that you already have three papers due within a week, and a test to study for. These things creep up on you fast, but here at Washington College, we believe that in order to be better students, it is important to take some time to yourself and relax.
The music department at WC has created a way for students to do just that, but in a way that allows students, faculty, and even the community, “to share in the experience of watching, creating and celebrating the amazing wonders of all different kinds of music,” as stated in the mission statement of the Washington College Concert Series.
The WC Concert Series, beginning its 62nd year on campus, supports “local, national, and international musicians in their creation of artistic works,” also stated in their mission statement.
Junior, Shannon Shirk, along with professors Jonathan McCollum, Jon Leupold, and Ken Schweitzer, are dedicated to bringing fantastic performances to the students of WC. With their hard work coming to fruition on the evening of Thursday, Sept. 5, WC Concert Series was proud to present the Naval Academy Big Band, Next Wave.
Starting at 6 p.m., the jazz ensemble comprised of a little over fifteen musicians and led by Chief Musician Joe McCarthy, brought about a large gathering in Martha Washington Square. The audience was comprised of students, faculty, and families alike, coming to enjoy a few hours of stylized music with others. President Reiss and his wife were even present.
According to Shirk, “The concert series performances always bring in positive reviews because we strive to book such talented musicians.”
And indeed they did. Sophomore Nikki Morgan attended the concerted and said, “Getting a bunch of the student body together, outside in nice weather, to listen to music and enjoy each other’s company, is a great way to keep students interested.” In addition to the great music onstage, the audience was offered concessions, such as free Rita’s Italian Ice, popcorn, and even cotton candy.
After a great beginning performance for the Concert Series this semester, Shirk has high hopes for performances in the future.
“This year students and faculty will be sure to enjoy music from a multitude of genres. We have made a point of bringing in music types that we haven’t before to appeal to more of the student body.”
Future concerts include Rogério Souza, a talented Brazilian guitarist from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, brought to celebrate Brazil Day 2013 on Sept. 6, a book talk and performance by Professor Kenneth Schweiter on Afro-Cuban Batá Drumming on Oct. 1, and a classical performance by Dan Shomper and Grace Eun Hae Kim on Oct. 4.
One can see the great amount of diversity that will be appearing on campus, thanks to the WC Concert Series. Not only do the concerts bring students together from all around campus, they introduce and expose them to new types of music they may have never had a chance to hear before.