July 29, 2020
Story by Joe Vinduska
Courtesy photo submitted
Barton Community College held its first-ever “Summer Virtual Student Recital” Friday featuring students who took advantage of the brand-new Summer Lessons program.
Summer lessons have not been offered in the past, but in light of the pandemic Barton Music Department administrators and faculty wanted to give music enthusiasts and Barton students the opportunity to take lessons on the instrument of their choice.
Director of Instrumental Music Dr. Luis Palacios and Percussion Instructor Grant Mathews organized the college’s first fully virtual recital. Dr. Palacios said he is always looking for ways to help people enhance their lives through music.
“It’s important that amidst everything going on in our lives, community members have the opportunity to find creative outlets to express themselves and enjoy their summer,” he said. “It was wonderful working with students from all walks of life. We had several community members learning an instrument for the first time, as well as freshmen and sophomores from Barton. Barton is about innovation and we were seeking ways to have a performance amidst COVID-19. This virtual recital gave students the ability to experience performing for each other and engage in a positive way with their fellow artists.”
The list of performers included Barton Percussion Instructor Grant Mathews’s student Logan Hammeke on drums and Director of Instrumental Music Dr. Luis Palacios’ students Carol Beck on flute, ReGina Reynolds-Casper on flute, Robert Brining on saxophone, Ted Brown on saxophone, Brook Degenhardt on Trombone, Andre Maier on trombone, Hery Rakotoarisoa on saxophone, Josie Riddle on French Horn, Corrie Upson on Clarinet and Faith Whited on saxophone.
For more information, contact Dr. Palacios at (620) 792-9396 or palaciosl@bartonccc.edu