The Mattabassett String Collective, a Wesleyan faculty/staff band, performed an eclectic mix of bluegrass, blues, country and rock during THE MASH, Sept. 7. From left is Professor Barry Chernoff, Professor Gil Skillman, cataloging librarian Rebecca McCallum and academic computing manager Kevin Wiliarty.Wesleyan President Michael Roth joined the band for the noon-time performance. He played keyboard, guitar and harmonica, and sang.
Rebecca McCallum performs on fiddle during the event. THE MASH, inspired by Fete de la Musique, also known as World Music Day, highlights the music scene at Wesleyan and kicks off the year-long campus and community-wide Music and Public Life initiative. McCallum started playing violin in 1975 and joined the Mattabesset String Collective in 2010.Professor Andy Curran, dean of the Arts and Humanities, and Pam Tatge, director of the Center for the Arts, cheer on President Roth and the String Collective.Professor Barry Chernoff, director of the College of the Environment and chair of the Environmental Studies Program, plays guitar.Gil Skillman, professor of economics and tutor in the College of Social Studies, sings and plays the dobro, or resophonic guitar. He also plays the cuatro, a 10-string Puerto Rican instrument, and a banjo. Skillman has played guitar for about 45 years.Kevin Wiliarty, academic computing manager for the social sciences, plays bass guitar with the band. He learned to play the instrument in high school.
Olivia Drake
James Sims
Editorial Staff
Ziba Kashef