from Mitchell

I played fiddle in the Celtic Ensemble for five semesters. Admittedly at first I was somewhat intimidated to participate because I was not a music major and had absolutely no affiliation with the Texas Tech School of Music or any other arts program at Texas Tech. The decision to join took my college experience to a whole new level. Everyone was friendly. The group was very welcoming, encouraging, and supportive. The music of course was stimulating and fun. However, the Ensemble was about so much more than just playing music, singing songs, telling stories, and dancing. It opened my eyes to a different flavor of human history - a less well-known one defined by community, culture, individuality, and plight of the common man. In the five semesters that I actively participated, there were many different show themes that we performed - Irish, Old-Time Appalachian, Balkan, Gypsy, and even Pirate Sea Shanties. However, one common theme to all of the shows was sharing. The Ensemble experience was a daily reminder of the difference one can make through sharing. Sharing music. Sharing stories. Sharing time. Sharing burdens. Sharing experiences. Sharing life.