Thursday, December 11, 2008

Bassonist Darryl E. Harris, Sr. Plays at Children's Center for Communication and Development

[Darryl Harris Sr. of Greenville, a doctoral student in musical arts at the University of Southern Mississippi, performs at the university’s Children’s Center for Communication and Development. (Southern Miss Marketing and Public Relations photo by David Tisdale)]

Darryl Harris is an African American doctoral student in musical arts with whom we have been in touch for some time. Recently he sent us a link to “Mississippi Public Radio feature on Children's Center”. Darryl explains: “This interview was conducted at the University of Southern Mississippi, Center for Language Disorders. This was of course Mississippi Public Radio, and it was broadcast, nationally. I heard it as I was traveling in another state...WOW!!! I played for them: 1) The Sorcerer's Apprentice by Dukas, 2) an excerpt from Tchaikovsky's 4th Symphony-2nd movement, I ended with 3) Amazing Grace. At the very beginning, I was demonstrating the various parts of the bassoon, the youngsters are always fascinated with that.

Darryl Harris Sr. of Greenville, a Southern Miss graduate student pursuing a doctorate in musical arts, said performing for the students is gratifying. The reaction he gets, he said, is what a musician hopes for. “I don’t think it gets any better – it’s an honor and privilege to play for these children,” Harris said. “They appreciate the music and they’re fascinated with the instruments. When you can put smiles on little faces like that, that’s what it’s all about. That’s what we practice for.” Harris isn’t surprised that the children are connecting with the performances. “The power of music can reach people when mere words can’t, and you can see it in the faces of those kids. It really works.”





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