Faculty share their love of music

As part of the Marion County Public Library’s summer reading program “Libraries Rock,” local musicians gathered at the library to showcase their instruments during the Meet the Orchestra event.

Children had the opportunity to spend an afternoon at the library to learn about the different instruments in an orchestra.

Fairmont State University professors John Morrison on violin, Evan Klein on the oboe and recent graduate Chyna Brown on euphonium, trumpet and trombone demonstrated their instruments and taught the children how they function and where they come into play in an orchestra.

Marion County Public Library youth services librarian Christian Cox said that the library has held a similar event in the past, but with this year’s summer reading program theme, he thought it would be a great idea.

“This whole summer reading theme is that reading rocks, so it had to do with music and the celebration of music,” Cox said. “I was exploring the various types of music and decided to introduce different types of instruments as well as the different aspect of what is in an orchestra.”

Cox, being affiliated with Fairmont State’s Academy for the Arts, reached out to the university’s music program in search of some recommendations to get involved at the Meet the Orchestra event, and he was eager to have local musicians showcase something “new” to the children.

“At the library, it’s really cool to introduce the children to different things that are in their own community that they may not know is there,” Cox said. “These people are all local musicians and work at Fairmont State University, and it’s good to expose them to things they may not get to see elsewhere.”

The last summer reading event will be held today. The End of Summer Pool Party will be held at the East Marion Park Wave Pool beginning at 6 p.m. Those that have participated in the program should bring their library card to get access to the party. There will be free swimming, food and prizes.

^{This story was written by Times West Virginian reporter Kaitlyn Neff and appeared in the July 21, 2018 edition. It is reprinted with Neff’s permission.}

School of Fine ArtsDepartment of Music