By Danielle Bettendorf, Living and Arts Editor
Trombonist Chris Washburne will perform with Susquehanna’s music students as a part of his residency on campus.
Washburne and the students will perform at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 28 in Stretansky Concert Hall.
Prior to the performance, Washburne has been working with music students to prepare and educate based on his career.
“The students will be performing my compositions,” Washburne explained.
“We’re gonna be playing a variety of Afro-Cuban music and dance styles,” Washburne continued.
On the repertoire chosen, Washburne emphasized the importance of the music’s background, rather than just the music itself.
“It’s really important that [students] understand the value of the history and social meaning to the music,” Washburne said.
“I’ve been visiting classes this week to try to talk about some of that history,” Washburne continued, emphasizing the importance of including the Caribbean background in central Pennsylvania.
Washburne also stated that he believes music is integral to society today.
“I think that music is one of the most music powerful untapped resources that we have access to in today’s society,” Washburne said.
Washburne also said that it is “important to listen deeply to the sounds of music with such a visual society.”
Washburne further emphasized what we can learn from music and where it can take us from here.
“Sounds can tell us the future,” Washburne said. “It can tell us the past.”
“Music [is] vitally important to try to instill in the next generation of musicians,” Washburne said.
Washburne is an associate professor of music at Columbia and founded its Louis Armstrong Jazz Performance Program.
He and his Latin jazz group, SYOTOS, have performed at multiple venues including Carnegie Hall.
Previous musicians to visit Susquehanna through the Martha Barker Blessing Musicians-in-Residence series include Kevin Noe of the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble, Samuel Adler, Imani Winds, Vienna Piano Trio and Amici Musicae of Leipzig.
