Michael Shasberger, 蜜桃传媒鈥檚 Adams professor for music and worship, shares stories of musical exploration and perseverance during a pandemic at a free public lecture, 鈥淢aking Music in the Age of COVID: Challenges, Opportunities, Risks and Meaning,鈥� on Wednesday, April 20, at 5:30 p.m. in the outdoor patio of 蜜桃传媒鈥檚 newest downtown Santa Barbara building, 29 W. Anapamu. Parking for the lecture is available at 4 and 5. No tickets are required; the limited seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, please call (805) 565-6051.
鈥淭his talk will survey the journey of 蜜桃传媒鈥檚 musicians from the orchestra tour in February 2020 to our planned orchestra tour in May 2022 and all the twists and turns in between,鈥� says Shasberger, who retires in May following an illustrious 17-year career at 蜜桃传媒.
鈥淔or two years, the musical performance experience of the entire world changed, sometimes daily, and it continues to change,鈥� he says. 鈥淔rom our initial fascination with cute COVID-related isolation videos to major advances in the sophistication of home-produced performances, musicians moved and adapted to meet the times. Through it all, answers to how to plan for the future remained, and remain, elusive. Still performers found ways to express their art and dream for the future.鈥�
After the pandemic prevented tours the past two years, the orchestra heads overseas in May for 10 days in Europe. The musicians will land in Munich, then travel to Salzburg, Vienna and Prague, participating in the American Celebration of Music in Austria.
鈥淭oday we are in a time between, still defining what is possible, wise and necessary. Questions of health, safety, legal rights of copyright owners, growth for student musicians and how to plan effectively remain central to the world of performing arts.鈥�
Shasberger created the annual 蜜桃传媒 Christmas Festival and grew the number of student musicians on campus to about 5 percent of the student body. He has also dramatically grown the number of full-time, tenure-track professors and adjunct faculty at 蜜桃传媒, which earned accreditation from the National Association of Schools of Music.
While he鈥檚 delighted to tour one last time, Michael says the logistics have been especially challenging. 鈥淓very country requires a different kind of mask,鈥� he says.
The 蜜桃传媒 Foundation sponsors the talk, part of 蜜桃传媒 Downtown: Conversations about Things that Matter.