The digital magazine for faculty, staff, students and friends of Pensacola State College
January 13, 2021
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Well, I’m out. Just learned I’m ineligible to play in either the Pensacola State College Concert Band or, and this one hurts the most, the PSC Jazz Ensemble.
There goes my dream of recreating John Coltrane’s reverent masterpiece “A Love Supreme” before a slack-jawed audience. No mesmerizing a crowd with gauzy, romantic melodies like Miles Davis’ “Generique” or working an audience into a collective frenzy of ecstasy like Duke Ellington at Newport.
Apparently, PSC Band Director Doug Holsworth, pictured at right, wants people who can play an instrument, not just appreciate the wondrous sounds those artistic tools can make. Seems rather arbitrary to me, but whatever…
So, if you’re a PSC student and can play an instrument, Holsworth would love for you to come join the PSC Concert Band – sometimes referred to as the Wind Ensemble – or the PSC Jazz Ensemble. You won’t just be playing – you’ll be earning college credits since both musical groups meet for a traditional class. (Continuing Education students can also join these classes). No need to be a music major. You just need to be able to play an instrument and meet for classes.
And if you can play a French horn or alto saxophone, that’s a bonus – which is not the same thing as extra credit, by the way. It’s just that even though Holsworth is currently filling both groups/classes with players, he doesn’t have a single French horn or alto sax player yet.
“I would like to send out an invitation to all PSC students to come and join the band program here,’’ Holsworth said. “I am sure there are lots of students who were in their high school bands and would want to continue planning in an ensemble.”
But Holsworth said musical experience is a must. It’s not a beginner’s program. So, again, I’m out. I can almost play half of “Louie Louie” on guitar, that’s something right? Besides, I always come back to the classic, hilarious Lou Reed quote espousing minimalism in music: “One chord is fine. Two chords are pushing it. Three chords and you’re into jazz.”
I guess since I can play an A, D, G and C chord – no dreaded F chord - I’m a jazz cat by Lou’s standards. But PSC’s standards are different. And apparently, higher.
If you’re interested, the PSC Concert Band classes are held 12:45-1:35 p.m. Monday through Thursday. The Jazz Ensemble meets from 2-3:15 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday.
— Troy Moon
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So many people are leaving jobs during these uncertain times, leaving a wide-open job market for any ambitious person seeking a new career.
A staggering 4.5 million Americans quit their jobs in November 2021, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which also reports that there are currently 10.6 million job openings in the country.
That’s why Pensacola State College is holding an Adult Student Information Session at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 18. The session will help returning adult students who either want to earn a degree/certificate and start a new career or who previously attended a college or university and never finished.
The event will take place in Room 509 of the G. Thomas Delaino Student Center on the Pensacola campus.
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Finger Style Acoustic Guitar Competition set for Feb. 19 at PSC |
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The 2022 Pensacola Finger Style Acoustic Guitar Competition is set for 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 19, in the Pensacola State College Ashmore Fine Arts Auditorium.
The competition is open to all acoustic guitarists who are 18 years old or younger on the date of the contest. The first-place winner will receive a $600 cash prize and $2,400 Pensacola State scholarship. Second-place winner will be awarded a $450 cash prize, and $1,800 scholarship. The third-place winner will receive $300 cash and a $1,200 scholarship.
The competition is closed to the public. The top three prizes will be announced during intermission at the Johan Smith concert set for 7:30 p.m. Feb. 19 in the Ashmore Fine Arts Auditorium.
Smith, Guitar Foundation of America’s 2019 International Concert Artist Competition grand prize winner, will be the guest adjudicator for the competition. He also will hold a free guitar workshop for all competitors from 4-7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 18, in the College’s Ashmore Fine Arts Center, Room 857.
All competitors are encouraged to register and attend the free master class.
Dr. Joe Stallings, Department of Performing Arts
Pensacola State College
1000 College Blvd.
Pensacola, FL 32514
The sponsors for this year’s competition are Hill Guitars, Blues Angel Music, A Joyful Noise Music Store, Leitz Music, and Minds on Music.
For more information, email or call Stallings at 850-484-1805.
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The first shovels hit the dirt at the Pensacola State College Truck Driver Training Facility in late September 2021 during the groundbreaking ceremony for the $7.8 million facility.
There have been a bunch more shovels and heavy construction equipment moving dirt and changing the landscape of the 15-acre site in rural Milton ever since.
Aerial photographs show an already-transformed landscape, with recognizable areas cleared for the facility building, which will include three classrooms, offices and an adjoining truck bay, and the half-mile asphalt driving loop and a concrete driving pad. It also will include state-of-the-art Virage Truck simulators that are currently used in the Truck Driver Training program, which was initiated at PSC in 2019.
The substantial completion date for the project is Aug. 5 and Michael Listau, director of Workforce Education at PSC, said he expects classes to begin at the facility, located at the Santa Rosa Industrial Park East, in August if all the construction is complete.
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Tanya Brashers was a good student in high school back in Yazoo City, Mississippi. But she really didn’t see a path to college.
“I came from a farming family in Yazoo City,’’ Brashers said. “There weren’t really a lot of resources to help me get into college. Financially I couldn’t do it and didn’t really have anyone to guide me as far as college.”
Besides farming, her family was steeped in military service and tradition. At age 19, Brashers entered the U.S. Navy knowing G.I. Bill benefits could help her realize her college dream once she completed service.
Today, Brasher is the coordinator of the Pensacola State College Veterans Student Success Center, a new program funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education.
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TWO NEW ART EXHIBITS OPEN AT SWITZER CENTER |
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Opening receptions for the Paula Work and Lauren Redding exhibits are from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, January 13, at the Anna Lamar Switzer Center for Visual Arts. |
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Interested in transferring to UWF?
Stop by the Pensacola Campus Advising office in Room 508, Building 5, to meet with a PSC2UWF Transfer Adviser from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 13.
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Learn how you can support students like Jerry:
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