Bryan College orchestra performs first concert of the semester

Written by: Daeana Barkubein, Area editor

DAYTON, Tenn.– Bryan College’s orchestra held its first concert of the school year 2020-2021 in front of Mercer Hall from 6:00-7:30 p.m. on Fri., Oct. 16, in accordance with COVID-19 safety guidelines.

To allow visitors and students to watch the concert without limiting audience capacity, people were encouraged to bring lawn chairs to sit on in addition to the folding chairs that were set out in the Triangle. 

When asked what she was most looking forward to, adjunct instrumental professor Allyson Underwood said, “Just being able to have a public performance with a live audience just because the arts have been under a lot of pressure and critique this year because of COVID.”

Tenn. is among the 20 states that have opted to follow the federal definition of essential workers developed by the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). The CISA’s guidelines do not include musicians as essential workers. 

Research on exhaled aerosols has also suggested that simply holding socially-distanced musical events outside may not be preventive enough, especially for the musicians playing. 

Underwood said, “[We’ve been] trying to read a lot of the information that some scientists have given us about wind instruments and how safe it is. Also, this semester, since we have smaller groups, we’ve been doing chamber groups where there is no conductor, so we rely a lot on listening to each other and feeling the music together.”

The pieces performed included various hymns, dancing music like the “High Society Cancan” performed by the pianists, some classical music, selections from the soundtrack of “The Greatest Showman,” “Leia’s Theme” from the “Star Wars” franchise, and a rendition of “Fly Me to the Moon” to end the night. (Right: performance by the piano ensemble)

Guitarist Abbey Johns said, “I would like for the audience to see us perform and then have a new appreciation for music and art! The art industry is dying and I would love for people to get more enthusiastic about the musical and theatrical arts!”

On Fri., Oct. 23, the fine arts department will oversee a chamber music concert from the choir in front of Mercer starting at 6:00 p.m.

Daeana Barkubein is a freshman area editor for the Bryan Triangle majoring in literature and minoring in communication. When not studying, she enjoys knitting, painting, and many other hobbies.