Recital Shows Off Musical Skills this Weekend

By Jonathan Weaver

Nearly 40 up-and-coming musicians will take the stage Saturday night in Kittanning for an annual recital.

Students at Smail’s Custom Drum Shop on Market Street in Kittanning will perform at 7PM Saturday at Club Radioactive a few blocks away along Templeton Way.

15-year-old Logan Callen of Walkchalk said he has gotten “definitely a lot better” since he began taking lessons nearly four years ago.

A ninth grader at Evangel Heights Christian Academy in Sarver, Callen chose to play “Rock Steady” by classic rock band Bad Company from his range of choices.

“I think I’m definitely ready,” Logan said. “We’ve been practicing quite-a-while; a few months at least.”

Logan’s father, Eric, also has his own guitar. He recalled that Logan’s first lesson was December 23, 2010.

“I have a picture of Logan at his first lesson as he sat in the chair back there, and he held the guitar and it looks natural in his hands,” Eric said. “I think he could be really good at it.”

Parents and grandparents will be attending the recital, as well as 12-year-old sister, Jonetta – who has taken voice lessons at Grace Christian School in West Kittanning.

Logan also has a few friends that will be performing at the recital.

10-year-old Charlie Dosch has been playing just more than a year and will play in his first recital Saturday evening.

Dosch – a fourth grader at West Hills Intermediate – will perform “Ode to Joy” and “Rockin` Robin.”

Each week, Mother and Applewold Borough Mayor Gretchen Dosch walks or rides her bike over the Kittanning Citizens Bridge with her sons as Charlie takes lessons.

She thought her son would have some nerves Saturday evening.

“Not right now, but I bet he will be,” Mayor Dosch said. “But he likes it. My husband and I both think music is an important thing for them to learn to be able to do – something they’ll be able to do for a long, long time hopefully.”

Husband, Damon, also plays guitar and sings with the band “Jaggerbush Hollow.”

She hopes younger son, Sam, begins taking drum lessons again as he did during last school year.

Instructor Kim Luke said all of her beginner guitar, voice, piano and band students are ready for Saturday – even though they also might have some anxiety. She expects most of her students – most of which in school - to be in the recital.

“I think they’re ready to go,” Luke said.

Luke – who earned a degree in music education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and taught for six years at a private school in Indiana – will play with one of the students.

Some students are playing solos and some are playing duets or part of a band, Shop Owner Mike Smail said.

Luke Waldrop started playing drums nearly three years ago and received his first drum set – coincidentally purchased from the drum shop last Christmas.

Father, Chris, praised Smail for the improvement he has seen in the young musicians.

“Mike’s a great teacher, great with the kids,” Chris said. “You see huge improvements from kid-to-kid.”

Waldrop will perform “My Worst Enemy” by alternative rock band Lit.

Last year’s recital was also at Club Radioactive, but students have also performed at the Kittanning Eagles and at the John P. Murtha Amphitheatre in Kittanning Riverfront Park.

The free concert is open to the public.

 

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