On Thursday, Sept. 23, Waynesburg University’s Fine Arts Department hosted a Latin-American Chamber Music Concert featuring Camerata 33 as a part of its performing arts series. Students gathered inside the Goodwin Performing Arts Center for a performance that promoted both culture and diversity.
Dr. Ronda DePriest who serves as Director of the Music Program and Professor of Instrumental music described the event as an opportunity to educate and immerse the student body in different cultures and keep live music alive and well in the midst of a global pandemic.
“The thing about music is it’s eclectic and not genre specific and the more variety of genres we can get in our student’s hands the broader their worldview will be,” said DePriest.
The evening featured both English and Spanish interactions as well as tango featuring percussion and dancing performances. Students were asked to wear masks in abidance to the Keep Waynesburg Well Plan amid the Covid-19 pandemic and many were thrilled to see the return of live performances.
Last year, during the height of the pandemic a large number of the occasions the student body annually anticipates were cancelled or held virtually; so, this year brings a fresh wave of excitement for the staff, student body and performers to see the return of live events.
“I am just unbelievably thrilled to see that things are beginning to open back up so we can hold events like these,” said DePriest.
Camilo Jauregui, Co-Director of Camerate 33, was for one very glad to be back on stage and being able to continue spreading Camerate 33’s message through live performances and feeling the positive energy that comes from an audience.
“Camerate 33 was born with the idea to spread Latin American music around the world,” Jauregui said.
Even if you missed last Thursday’s performance, there will be plenty of future opportunities to come and see Camerate 33. The group will be returning with a special Christmas performance featuring everyone’s favorite Christmas jingles with a Latin American twist this December.