Return of live concerts for young musicians in Quebec

BETTENDORF, Iowa (KWQC) — Live concerts returned for some music students in the Quad Cities on Sunday afternoon.

The Iowa Composers Forum and St. Peter’s Episcopal Church held their first major in-person event with the Educational Piano Concert.

About fifteen student musicians from across Quebec performed in the “Music @ St. Pete’s” concert series. Many of them have lost almost two years of concerts due to the cancellation of concerts by COVID-19.

Program director Dr Perry Mears said performing for others is an important part of learning music.

“Music is not a private art,” Mears said. For most people – you know, even if you’re not going to be a performer, as a profession – you want to offer your gift and your talent to others… You want it to be part of your larger community.. . This gives [students] a chance to do so.

For Atiksh Sinha, her first performance since before the pandemic also meant premiering the song “Blue Whale,” by Oregon composer Lisa Neher.

“I feel very proud of myself. Like in the few years I started, I go to someone’s house to play. And now I play in front of…composers,” Sinha said. “It’s a little scary, just because the pressure… I’ve played there before, like in my teacher’s studio.”

The pandemic has caused many changes in music education, such as teaching on Zoom or FaceTime. Mears said there was takeout here to stay.

“We always try to find positives in things,” Mears said. “The frequency of live streaming allows the families of people who live elsewhere to see them play regularly, which is great, and we will continue.”

Sunday’s full concert can be viewed on the Iowa Composers Forum Facebook page.

The “Music @ St. Pete’s” free concert series returns in the spring on May 21. For more information, visit the program’s Facebook page.

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