We want to offer a GREAT BIG Thank You to Navarat Varin, one of our Guest International Musicians/Speakers at the April Meeting
Firstly, a big Thank You goes out to COMBO Board Member Annette Cannon for putting together and hosting this program. Very well done, Annette!
The speakers including Alejandro Parra (Venezuela); Navarat Varin (Thailand); Merete Solvedt (Norway); Ricardo Vallejos (Chile/Dubai); Ashesh Dangol (Nepal); Nate Hamon (Australia); Duncan Webb (Scotland); and Kareem Husem (Egypt).
Videos of each of their talks will be posted on the COMBO website soon. But each week, for the next several weeks, we will post short bios of each of the speakers for your reference. It was so great to be able to meet like-minded people and wonderful musicians – a language that ALL people speak.
Navarat Varin is from Chiang Mai, Thailand, and came to the US on 7/1/14. He studied Music at the Manv Bharti University Himachal and has a Bachelor’s in Music Education. He is a Volunteer teacher at the Thai Temple.
He has been playing Thai instruments for 18 years and majors in string instruments, and plays the Violin. He prefers and has made albums with folk, traditional and contemporary Thai music.
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Report on the Music at This Year’s 9Health Fair – Colorado Convention Center
The Music this year at the 9HealthFair/Colorado Convention Center was a Success! The Line-up by JMoon Promotions was Brian Parton, Amy Kress, Rich Owen, Kate LeRoux and Wild Mountain Honey. We received positive feedback from both the Convention Center Event coordinators and from the 9HealthFair participants. One lady commented “This was the best part of the healthfair!” One man stated “Thank you so much. The music kept my anxiety level down while I was getting blood drawn!” Another commented “The music was emotionally healing for me!” Everyone had positive comments and the musicians were able to not only network with each other, but some obtained a connection for a future gig from interested participants. All and all, our Music Volunteers MADE A DIFFERENCE in the health of others. “Music is Healing”
Annette Cannon
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Prosecutor, Defense Make Closing Arguments in Hazing Case
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) – The three remaining defendants on trial for the hazing death of a Florida A&M drum major beat him on a bus because it was tradition, not because they disliked him, a prosecutor said Friday during closing arguments.
Robert Champion’s death was the result of a hazing tradition that was ingrained in the school’s famed band, said State Attorney Jeff Ashton.
“Tradition: As a result of that, Robert Champion was beaten to death by his friends. They didn’t beat him because they hated him. It was a tradition,” Ashton said.
Known as “Crossing Bus C,” the ritual required band members to try to make it to the back of the bus with as many as three dozen fellow members doing everything to stop them. Succeeding through “the crossing” was a way to earn the respect and acceptance of fellow band members. Other parts of the ritual included “the hot seat,” when band members stayed in bus seats with heads between their legs as other band members beat them, as well as “prepping,” when a shirtless band member was slapped on the back and chest.
Champion collapsed after going through “the crossing” in November 2011 on a bus parked outside an Orlando hotel. He died a short time later. Two other band members passed through the bus ordeal before Champion, and survived.
Defense attorneys challenged the testimony of other band members who were on the bus, contending that prosecutors never proved any individual was responsible for Champion’s death. Attorneys for Benjamin McNamee, Aaron Golson and Darryl Cearnel also said there was no conspiracy, as prosecutors claim. If convicted, the defendants each face 15 years in prison.
“They can’t prove the crimes he is facing,” said Michael Dicembre, McNamee’s attorney.
Closing arguments were delayed after Ashton wanted to find out if jurors were influenced by the sight of two defendants praying outside the courtroom.
Almost all of the six jurors and two alternates said they saw Golson and McNamee praying, but they said it wouldn’t influence them during deliberations.
Hazing case closing arguments
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