The ARTS Are Well In Rocky Mount

Tonight at the Dunn Center on the campus of North Carolina Wesleyan College the Tar River Jazz Band held their Christmas Concert.

Yes unemployment runs in double digits in the Twin Counties. We are on a list of one of the 10 worst places to live. The five hundred or so people at the Dunn Center were treated to a wonderful night of Jazzy Christmas tunes topped off by the Tar River Children's Chorus.

Raleigh has the NC Symphony but most of those funds come from the state for the operations. This little old town of almost 60,000 people has their very own Orchestral Society pretty much self supported. Tonight the Jazz Band and Children's Chorus performed as part of the Concert series.

I was thinking while the band was performing what a wonderful thing music is. They were conducted tonight by John Sykes former band director at Rocky Mount Senior High. Mr Sykes retire twenty years ago as the band director but his love for music lives . I watch in amazement in the joy you see in the people's eyes as they perform.

Being the father of one of the Choristers of course I am going to say the high light of the evening was the children singing.

This is our seventh year with the TRCC. Those seven years I have come to realize that Angels do walk on earth. Most coaches have whistles, but this women of steel has hand clapping to get attention. When she claps her hands she has their attention.

People who have extra ordinary talents sometimes can't teach others. Michael Jordan the greatest basketball player of all time doesn't have the patience to teach the average.

If you have ever heard her sing you would know why she won her talent on her night at the Miss America Pageant a few years ago. The woman can flat out sing. She can also flat out teach others to sing.

Our seven years we have been to Charlotte, Winston Salem, Williamsburg twice, Philadelphia and New York spreading music to others and in most cases bringing home top honors whenever they have been in competitions.

I enjoy watching her lead the Chorus as much as listening to their sounds. You can see God flow through her and every now and then I swear I see wings on her shoulders.

Any time you go on a trip things may not go according to plan. An eighteen hour day can make tempers flare. There is always one shining light to let us know things aren't that bad. If you don't know who I am speaking of then you have missed out on knowing an Angel.

I am speaking of Patsy Gilliland. She has a voice that can crack glasses, a smile that radiates the heavens, and a heart of one of the most Christian people I know.

The Twin Counties is very lucky to have Patsy leading our children. There is no doubt that my families life is much better every day by having Patsy be a part of it.