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down instruments/mallets, and just working hard to perform at a very high level,” says Rubins. “I think they were so ready to make music and be in the same room as other humans that they fell right into ‘let’s get this done’ mode.”
n March of this year, like so many other university departments and performance venues, the UTSA Department of Music was forced to cancel a full calendar of events as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic. The 500-seat Recital Hall fell quiet and dark for months. With no end in sight and social distancing becoming the norm, the music faculty had to find a way to offer the student musicians opportunities to perform without compromising their health.
now more than ever with social distancing regulations and the majority of class being held online.” On October 1st, the students in the UTSA Percussion Ensemble, under the direction of Sherry Rubins, will be the first ensemble to perform in a livestream setting. The ensemble will consist of new and returning members, and Rubins believes the excitement of being able to play together after not being able to for the past several months is all the motivation they need.
The rules of social distancing are also affecting the type of music the ensembles will be performing. Troy Peters, conductor of the UTSA Orchestra, is currently rehearsing for an October 9th livestream concert. It is the first of two this semester; the second is slated for November 23rd. He describes how programming a performance for a group of less than 20 musicians differs from a program for over 50.
With support from music chair Dr. Tracy Cowden and university administration, audio technology lecturer Vinnie Barrera implemented a livestream system in the Recital Hall just in time for the fall semester. He worked with a limited budget and against a relentless clock to put a 4-camera system in place in time for the first livestreaming event caused by the quarantine. “This year, pre-quarantine, the proposal of adding cameras was suggested. Adding these cameras would allow the music program to connect to a bigger audience and also allow the music department to have a greater online presence,” says Barrera. “We need them
“I couldn’t be more proud of the way the students (5 new and 8 returning) are adapting to playing with masks, wiping
“The big difference for the UTSA Orchestra this semester is the shift to a strings-only group,” says
