By Genesis Benavides
Andy Harnsberger and Caitlin Jones are performing artists and clinicians for Malletech Instruments. In 2023, they began performing together as a duo; their YouTube channels have amassed over 1.7 million views. They both teach at Lee University where Harnsberger is the Director of Percussion Studies and Jones works in the Percussion and Music Theory department.
“My parents said I had to take up another instrument,” Caitlin Jones said. “So, percussion it was.”
The recital began with the music piece titled In the Midst of Darkness created by Andy Harnsberger, which was inspired by a Ghandi quote.
Promises Broken was the second piece created by Adam Silverman and performed by Harnsberger and Jones. The UNCP students were only the third crowd who had heard this piece played.
The next music piece was titled Parrots in Peril created by a friend of Harnsberger and Jones, Gordon Stout, which was sectioned off into three parts: Tandem of Secrets, Slipstreams and Mobbing in the Sky. The meaning behind the piece comes from the plight of songbirds.
The Long Road was the next music work created by Andy Harnsberger and was performed as a solo by Caitlin Jones. It came about at the beginning of quarantine because as Jones states, “When it seems there is no end goal, with endurance and faith, you can achieve anything in the long road.”
Words Unspoken, a music piece by Andy Harnsberger and was performed as a solo by Andy, the piece represents the emotions one goes through when losing someone: sadness, anger, and peace of mind.
The final piece of the night, which ended the recital was entitled Sequoia created by Alex Stopa.
The recital presented to the UNCP students that there are different avenues to take if they are interested in music and highlights the world of percussion to everyone.
“Coming and seeing people who do this can show the UNCP students what is possible,” Andy Harnsberger said. “Exposing people to the instrument and to learn to be expressive.”