The halls of the library were buzzing with excitement, alive with the chatter of more than 80 elementary students and additional community members. Today was no ordinary Music Sandwiched In. Today was special.

Before Ana asked Elsa if she wanted to build a snowman in Disney’s Frozen, Raymond Briggs invited his readers to do the same. Briggs released his classic wordless book The Snowman in 1978 and it was adapted into a cartoon in 1982. The Snowman book and movie have been a constant presence in my family’s life. I can’t remember the first winter that I learned of the story, but in my mind, it has always been there.

“My mission is to get people to make music an important facet of their lives, no matter whose music that may be, nor how that music may be experienced.”

He has scored two independent film projects in Kansas City, as well as a number of film projects with rising filmmakers through the Savannah College of Art and Design. 

"Bacon, like Copland and Ives, wrote music whose breath smelled American. His output is witty, honest, and always entertaining."
- Syracuse Post Standard

Sanjuán’s career later took him to Havana, Cuba, where he founded and conducted the Havana Philharmonic. His composition pupils included Cuban composers such as Roldán and Caturla.

“I start with a cell that's interesting. I have a great love for language, and many of my rhythms and melodic motives come from speech: little snippets of poetry, a moment in an overheard conversation, a phrase from a prayer or hymn. I transcribe how it sounds, then I start to play with it.”

Over the years, he has become a quintessential part of the music education community in Spartanburg.

His love for the piano began when he was 7 years old. By the time he was 11, he had written his first work for solo piano.

In addition to his work as a composer, Peter is also a music educator and advocate for composers.

Deep roots require dedication, passion, and a true commitment to music, something our orchestra members, featured artists, and guest soloists and composers all share; right in our own Spartanburg community.

Musicians are often the best multitaskers. During a performance, they can take on any number of roles including conversationalist, storyteller, dancer, painter, and confidant. Russell Moore and IIIrd Tyme Out is one of the few bands that achieves all of this in just a few short minutes.

Curators who commit to increasing gender parity in their musical programming find that there is a world of exciting “new” literature from every time period, in every genre, that can be found by including women. For those of you who think you have never heard music by women composers, I invite you to embrace a beautiful, brave, “new” world.