“On the hushed third floor of the library, Maestro Hector Guzman, music director and conductor of the San Angelo Symphony, asked his audience to make some noise,” writes Andrew Atterbury in Tuesday’s (8/12) San Angelo Standard-Times (Texas). “He instructed half the room to clap twice, then the other side to clap three times — mirroring his onstage position directing the symphony. After the clap-off, he led the group in a rendition of ‘Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.’ … ‘Do you know what you just did?’ Guzman asked the audience. ‘You made music.’ … Guzman visited the Stephens Central Library Monday afternoon to talk on music and instruments as part of the library and symphony’s Music in Literature Program. He read the book ‘The Remarkable Farkle McBride’ by John Lithgow for about 50 parents, grandparents and children in the library’s community room.… Once the book was finished, Guzman gave a lesson on music basics. He schooled the audience on strings, woodwinds, brass and percussion, leading to the aforementioned jam session…. The program does wonders for children, said Sally Meyers, children’s librarian. ‘Those that are musicians I think will get encouragement,’ Meyers said. ‘Those that aren’t will get stimulated.’ ” Symphony magazine’s feature article on partnerships between libraries and orchestras appeared in the spring 2014 issue.
Posted August 14, 2014
