This last weekend was a great example of one of the reasons I came to Goshen College. Since being built, the music center has helped a music program flourish immensely at GC. Not only is the campus and its facilities a great incubator for such success, but the Mennonite musical routes of many who go here also engulfs the campus on a regular basis.

Friday's festivities started with a Performing Arts Series concert by John McCutcheon and Carrie Newcomer. John, a folk performer and friend of the Mennonite circles, put on a rising performance with many different instruments, and messages. His songs proved to me that music is one of the best ways of portraying a message.

In the second half of the PAS show, Carrie Newcomer, a GC grad, brought more folk music to the sold out crowd, also debuting her new music, and new quartet in a place where she comfortably referred to as home.

During the PAS show, one of my friends and fellow floormates was putting his musical talents too good use in a coffeehouse type setting down town. While I wasn't able to attend the event, it was something that I had been to before, and knew from experience that it was another classic example of people using music in very positive ways.

Right after the PAS show, a group of student's who had been preparing for a little over a month began performing their own set of music in the old Chapel across campus. This venue is frequently holding these "hour afters" sponsored by Campus Activities Council as a way for a large group of people on campus to get out of the dorms for an evening and again, hear some music. These are always a lot of fun and tend to be a good time for people to sing and dance and just enjoy themselves. (pictures will come soon)

Saturday night was the Concerto-Aria concert. Having been in orchestra during high school, it was easy for me to appreciate the magnificence of such a performance, without needing to attend. Instead, I opted to head of campus with some of my friends and venture into a church in a local town to hear some Christian Rock done by some different bands from the Atlanta area. Again we sang (or screamed) and danced to the loud music and had quite a good time.

The weather has been just as pesky as usual. Lots of snow on the ground now, and the roads were iced over when we attempted to make it home from the concert on Saturday night. That trip's travel time was doubled due to those hazardous conditions. Spring is getting closer and closer, and I can't wait to dawn the sunscreen and shorts and feel the sand under my feet, instead of the fluffy white stuff, even if it's only for a few days.

That's all for now.
-Tim