Messiah College Guitar Ensemble Reaches Out to the Community

Director of Guitar Studies Randall Zwally is looking forward to his upcoming Guitar Ensemble's Christmas concert on December 13. The event combines two of his biggest passions: playing guitar and educating students about music through guitar. Zwally, who holds a master's degree in Guitar Performance, directs the student ensemble, composed of four guitarists and a bassist. They played earlier this month in chapel and also held a concert at Messiah Village.

Zwally is excited about this particular show because it will be different from some of their earlier performances. The ensemble will also be playing with the Mechanicsburg Middle School Guitar Ensemble. This opportunity to support a public school music program that emphasizes guitars is what Zwally is really passionate about.

"Guitars are one of the most popular instruments for students in public schools," says Zwally. "But often there is no ensemble for guitarists to play in and teachers have little understand about how to teach this instrument."

The Mechanicsburg Middle School is an exception.

"Robin Setcavage, the middle school's guitar director, does all her music teaching using a guitar. All her students learn music through the instrument," says Zwally.

Zwally, who adamantly supports the use of guitar, often partners with Setcavage to encourage other music educators to use the instrument.

"I'm tired of excluding students from participating in music who don't speak the language of music keyboard," says Zwally. "Setcavage and I have collaborated with the idea of guitar as a teaching tool. At the Pennslvania Music Educators Assocation we gave a presentation about this and we're hoping to plan a workshop about this for next school year."

For Zwally, partnering with the middle school for this concert is an important demonstration of the support and also of encouraging music beyond Messiah College.

"We always try and reach out to the larger community," says Zwally.

In addition to the Mechanicsburg Middle School Guitar Ensemble, the concert will also feature a solo first year student, George Waltemire.

Waltemire, a jazz performance major, was not initally familiar with the Guitar Ensemble's style of music.

"I came in here with a strong jazz background," says Waltemire. "But, through this experience, I really was able to get a taste of more of the classical, acoustic guitar play."

Although he said that the ensemble has challenged him, "I think we're finally on the right track with this concert."

For his solo, Waltemire is returning to a style he is more familiar with. He worked on a jazzier arrangement of Australian guitarist Tommy Emmanuel's (SP) "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" to play on his electric guitar.

Zwally has been delighted with Waltemire's talent. "Man he can play. He's unbelievable," says Zwally. "He's going to be wonderful."

Messiah College Guitar Ensemble concert will be on Sunday, December 13 at 4 p.m. in Hostetter Chapel. Admissions is free.