PROJECT Trio kicks off DePauw's GMS adoption

Saturday, September 22, 2012
PROJECT Trio members (from left) Greg Pattillo, Peter Seymour and Eric Stephenson perform the Charles Mingus composition "Fables of Faubus" for Greencastle Middle School students Wednesday afternoon at Parker Auditorium.

Before performing at Kresge Auditorium on Wednesday night, DePauw School of Music visiting artists Project TRIO made a special stop at the Greencastle High School Parker Auditorium on Wednesday afternoon.

The Brooklyn-based outfit was on the east side of town to perform for Greencastle Middle School, answer some student questions and to help the school of music officially kick off its "adoption" of GMS.

Through their performances of "Fables of Faubus" by Charles Mingus and their adaptation of Sergei Prokofiev's "Peter and the Wolf," flutist Greg Pattillo, bassist Peter Seymour and cellist Eric Stephenson introduced the students to a style of classical music most of them could not have imagined.

The constant movement of the musicians onstage, frequent storytelling interludes (especially in "Peter and the Wolf") and the beatboxing flute playing of Pattillo in particular, the wide-eyed students were captivated throughout the relatively short performance.

While PROJECT Trio was in town for just a day, its visit marked the kickoff of a much bigger program for Greencastle Middle School and the DePauw School of Music.

"This year, we are embarking on an exciting new adventure thanks to the School of Music at DePauw University," GMS Principal Tamra Walker said. "We have been officially 'adopted' by the students and faculty of this fine institution."

Walker went on to highlight some of the things this may mean for GMS band and choir students and music director Kathryn Dory.

* On-site teaching/assistance by DPU faculty and students 


* May include the creation of a middle school jazz band 


* Visits to DePauw for concerts and other enrichment opportunities, featuring esteemed artists such Project Trio

* More instruments for students

The goals of this effort are to increase music participation, expand opportunities and exposure to the arts and enhance the value of the arts in the public school.

Walker thanked Greencastle Superintendent Dr. Lori Richmond, Dory, GMS guidance counselor Kathi Asbell, music faculty member Craig Paré, Dean Mark McCoy, the school of music faculty and DePauw President Brian Casey for offering support for the collaborative effort.

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  • sure wish South Putnam could get something like this to inspire the students.

    -- Posted by busymom48 on Sat, Sep 22, 2012, at 9:50 AM
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