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Bassoonist returns to the Tri-Lakes area
By Nicole Chillino
About 18 years ago, Dr. Jeff McCray could be heard playing in the Lewis-Palmer High School band under the direction of Craig Ketels.
Since graduating 1992, a series of decisions made by McCray have blazed a path to his standing as a professional musician and assistant professorship in bassoon at the University of Nebraska — Lincoln. The first week in November, McCray will return as a member of the university’s Moran Woodwind Quintet, composed entirely of faculty members, to perform for his home town and encourage Palmer Ridge High School students to carry with them throughout their lives the lessons they learn in band.
“I have been joking with some of my students lately, telling them, ‘you'll learn a lot in here, some of it might be about music,’” said Palmer Ridge High School Director of Bands Raleigh “Butch” Eversole.
Students learn tools they will need in the “real world” throughout their studies and extracurricular activities, including lessons about honoring commitments, self-discipline and gain self-confidence, he said.
“Learning to play an instrument is a skill that, if you pursue it to a degree of excellence, it’s something that can translate to any aspect of your life,” McCray said. “If you want to do well at something, have to work hard at it.”
He said Lewis-Palmer did a good job of educating him and preparing him for the world. McCray wants to give back to the community he was raised in, which is one of the reasons he wanted the quintet to stop in Monument.
The members of the quintet will talk to students about various topics, including college admission, how to major in music and how to continue playing music if they do not study it in college, he said. He would like to see the band students the musicians speak with continue playing music in one capacity or another.
“I think there is a lot of enjoyment that can be gained by listening to great music,” McCray said, “that enjoyment is something I’ve found is even stronger when you play music.”
Eversole hopes the students learn the musicians are well-rounded individuals through their conversations with the professionals.
The Moran Woodwind Quintet will perform for the public at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 3 at the Palmer Ridge High School auditorium.
Since graduating 1992, a series of decisions made by McCray have blazed a path to his standing as a professional musician and assistant professorship in bassoon at the University of Nebraska — Lincoln. The first week in November, McCray will return as a member of the university’s Moran Woodwind Quintet, composed entirely of faculty members, to perform for his home town and encourage Palmer Ridge High School students to carry with them throughout their lives the lessons they learn in band.
“I have been joking with some of my students lately, telling them, ‘you'll learn a lot in here, some of it might be about music,’” said Palmer Ridge High School Director of Bands Raleigh “Butch” Eversole.
Students learn tools they will need in the “real world” throughout their studies and extracurricular activities, including lessons about honoring commitments, self-discipline and gain self-confidence, he said.
“Learning to play an instrument is a skill that, if you pursue it to a degree of excellence, it’s something that can translate to any aspect of your life,” McCray said. “If you want to do well at something, have to work hard at it.”
He said Lewis-Palmer did a good job of educating him and preparing him for the world. McCray wants to give back to the community he was raised in, which is one of the reasons he wanted the quintet to stop in Monument.
The members of the quintet will talk to students about various topics, including college admission, how to major in music and how to continue playing music if they do not study it in college, he said. He would like to see the band students the musicians speak with continue playing music in one capacity or another.
“I think there is a lot of enjoyment that can be gained by listening to great music,” McCray said, “that enjoyment is something I’ve found is even stronger when you play music.”
Eversole hopes the students learn the musicians are well-rounded individuals through their conversations with the professionals.
The Moran Woodwind Quintet will perform for the public at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 3 at the Palmer Ridge High School auditorium.
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