Welcome from the Chair

FROM THE CHAIR

Spring 2021 marks the end of an academic year unlike any other. It was difficult. It was certainly stressful. So many modifications were made to our normal operating procedures due to the pandemic. Some of these modifications will inform how we operate in the future. Others, I hope we never have to implement ever again. Our faculty, staff, and students were resilient in the face of highly pressurized circumstances. I want to thank them for their grace, adaptability, and understanding as things constantly changed.

Early on in the pandemic, the performing arts were singled out as being particularly risky for infection. We took measures to ensure the safety of our faculty, staff, and students as best we could under state, local, and university protocols. We found ways to increase air flow, ventilated spaces with open windows year round, incorporated HEPA filters, spaced desks and chairs for social distancing, relocated classes and ensembles to larger areas, and wore masks throughout wherever feasible. We did have a few waves of required quarantine in the fall semester, but were very grateful for the opportunity to still meet, study, and make music together. Many universities across the country were not meeting in-person at all, so we counted ourselves lucky in that regard. We kept measures in place for the spring semester, but infection and quarantine rates were much, much improved.

As a department, we managed to continue offering public performances. In total, we published 47 public performances via virtual online stream! Towards the end of the spring semester, we were able to have a couple of events with live audience at the NSU Blues & BBQ fund raiser for the Jazz program and the Wind Ensemble/Communiversity Band Joint Concert on April 27th. These were joyous occasions and we were glad to welcome people back into the Center for the Performing Arts for live performance. I expect the coming fall semester will be fully in-person and I hope you will join us for as many performances as possible. We have missed you! Though not exhaustive in the least, please read on in this issue of Manuscript to see the many ways that this department and the great students we teach remained active and creative.