By Jason Shotwell/reporter
Joining with the NE music department, the Sonata Club presented Songs from American Composers in the NE recital hall Oct. 19.
The Sonata Club works with TCC to connect with and help student musicians.
“We want to support youth and give them a chance to practice,” club president Fred Mills said. “We can use the facilities at TCC to engage with the students.”
The Sonata Club is a social club for musicians and music lovers that has been working in the community for 60 years, providing scholarships to incoming TCC music students.
“The scholarship was developed to attract good quality music students,” Mills said.
The scholarship provides $750 per fall and spring semester and is accessible through www.tccd.edu/scholarships.
Mills was inspired by a student who wasn’t accepted to UNT’s music program, but through TCC he now plays in a professional orchestra.
“When you hear stories like that, you see TCC gives students a chance,” he said.
The program surveyed living Broadway composers in America and was presented by instructional associate Patricia Asher and music instructor Karen Parsons.
Asher, a soprano, sang portions of Ragtime, Wicked and other musicals.
“This program is good exposure for students learning about music,” she said. “I love all of the musicals and their composers.”
Parsons, a pianist, wanted to expose her students to living composers.
“My students say they’re tired of learning about dead people,” she said. “So we tried to expose them to composers who are still with us.”
