Music of the Soul

Music is a type of therapy for the soul. But music and a vocalist is sheer soul food. On Thursday, December 11, my university had the privilege of having Christopher Parkening and Jubilant Sykes as guest artists.

Christopher Parkening is a classical guitarist often recognized as the heir to the legacy of the great Spanish guitarist Andres Segovia. Meanwhile Jubilant Sykes is a well-known classical baritone.

Together Christopher Parkening and Jubilant Sykes awed the students, faculty, friends and visitors with a Christmas program. This program included "I Wonder As I Wander," "Boi Bumba," "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child," and "America." My particular favorite was "Witness." Mr. Sykes sang it a cappella. It was fun, lively and touching. I enjoyed listening to Mr. Parkening's performance of the traditional "America" song. It was extremely soothing to the soul.

I must admit that my university tends to spoil its students with the finer tastes in the Fine Arts. But this was the icing on the cake. If only everyone could experience and learn to appreciate the finer arts.