Most of Asbury’s community is familiar with walking into chapel, watching various announcements pop up on the screen while recorded worship music plays, as students small talk their way to their assigned seats. But everyone loves it when this routine is interrupted as the twang of bluegrass music fills Hughes auditorium and students and faculty perform a folky version of worship music for the congregation.
Isaac Brooks, a lifelong musician and bluegrass enthusiast, has been working at Asbury for two years now as a lecturer of choral music. Although that is his official title, Brooks wears many hats as he directs the Choral and Women’s Choir, teaches conducting, choral pedagogy and understanding music and is involved in two bluegrass ensembles: the Appalachian ensemble and the Old Time Group. You’ve probably seen Brooks on stage with the Appalachian ensemble playing either mandolin or guitar, instruments he has been familiar with for about 10 years. While growing up in a small Baptist church in Barbourville, Kentucky, Brooks’ dad encouraged him to pick up the guitar, and this became his first entrance into music as well as singing in his church as a little kid. In high school, Brooks had the choice between JROTC and choir, and the seemingly menial decision of choir led to a “lifelong passion” for music that the Asbury community gets the honor of experiencing today.
On Feb. 3, Brooks will be singing in a faculty recital in the Jameson Recital Hall, performing duets with personal friend Cameron Carpenter as well as solo pieces. This recital will be broken into sets by composers such as John Ireland and Hugo Wolf, two composers who range from folk-inspired pieces to German music. Brooks stated that although Wolf might not be for everyone, “he has some really meaningful texts” that will be translated for those who attend. Through his two years at Asbury, Brooks commented on his appreciation for his ability to study and perform choral music as it derives mainly from the church through Catholic and Protestant traditions, as Asbury gives him the space to “not only perform it but kind of dive into it and talk about how that relates to our faith and actually have some really in-depth and meaningful conversations.” The faculty recital is a perfect opportunity for the Asbury community to connect to music performances intertwined with faith in a way that is not often found in other places.
Brooks notes, “I think students should show up more to choir concerts, band concerts and orchestra concerts, and support people who are also fellow students. I think that’s really important, and [it’s] something I try to push every time I can…these experiences, just like me joining a choir as a freshman in high school, may change the trajectory of the rest of your life, you know you may find a new passion.”
Along with the faculty recital on Feb, 3 at 7:30 p.m., Brooks is involved in the upcoming Choral Valentine Concert on Feb. 13 at 7:30 p.m., which includes the Men’s Glee Club, Women’s Choir, and Chorale. These events could ignite the potential for discovering a new passion for music, as well as supporting fellow students and faculty in the arts.
Photo courtesy of Union Commonwealth University.
