Sounds of drums and rhythmic music filled Morgan Auditorium Wednesday night as Ellen Rondina, the director of the West African Drum Ensemble class, put on a recital showcasing all they had learned throughout the semester.
Before each song, a student stood up to share their experience about why they loved the class and what made them decide to join.
The music was upbeat, played on the drums and the maracas.
“In the 25 years that I have been teaching music, this was the best class I have had,” Rondina said.
Students said that after some of them joined the class, they recruited their friends. Others decided to join because they saw the class perform previously and wanted to try it out.
“I saw (them) performing in the Hanawalt Courtyard and I fell in love,” said senior biology major Sabrina Delgadillo. “I was so passionate about this class, I convinced some friends to join. It was so much fun and I liked that it was okay to mess up.”
A couple of the students also decided to take the class a second time.
“First I took it because it was a part of my general education requirements, but then I decided to take it again because I genuinely enjoyed it,” said Jackie Valle, senior biology major. “This was a class that I looked forward to every week.”
The crowd was quick to the stage as they were invited to learn how to play the instruments they performed during the performance. Everyone got a chance to try out each instrument.
Rondina has been an adjunct professor for four years at the University. The West African Drum Ensemble class is open to the community and any student who would like to enroll.
– Stephanie Joseph
