MCC Faculty Member to Perform As Part of College Concert Series

Submitted by Middlesex Community College

As part of the Fall 2023 “A World of Music” concert series, Middlesex Community College will welcome faculty member and noted guitarist Raley Beggs for a lecture recital. The performance will take place at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 3 at the MCC Bedford Campus Concert Hall.

Beggs will feature the music of South African guitarist and composer David Hewitt, whose compositions blend his European roots with native/Indigenous music from South Africa. Several of his works for his solo guitar will be performed.

“David Hewitt (1947-2001) left the guitar repertoire a collection of works that reflect his experiences and inspirations from western traditions of guitar along with his fascinations with Zulu maskanda music,” Beggs said. “The resulting compositions constitute a body of work that is utterly unique and dramatically underrepresented today. This concert will offer a hearty introduction to the world of South African music through the life of composer David Hewitt and his innovative exploration of Southern African guitar styles.”

The concert is co-sponsored by the MCC Commonwealth Honors Program (CHP). MCC’s CHP provides equitable and inclusive opportunities for intellectually curious and motivated students to develop their fullest potential and enrich their college experience. Binnur Ercem, MCC’s Professor of Sociology and Cultural Anthropology and Director of the CHP, believes the “A World of Music” concert series matches the values of the CHP.

“The partnership between the honors program and concert series is an enriching academic experience, as well as a celebration of cultural diversity and artistic talent,” Ercem said. “This lecture recital will take attendees on an academic journey into the history and culture of South Africa through the universal language of music, offering a platform for students to immerse themselves in the rich tapestry of world cultures and musical expressions.”

“A World of Music” will also include an Online Saturday Arts Concert featuring MCC faculty and alumni at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 11, as well as a Student Recital at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 4 at MCC’s Bedford Concert Hall.

Performances throughout the semester will also take place at the Richard and Nancy Donahue and Family Academic Arts Center, including Literature through Music at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 14; Ezekiel’s Wheels Klezmer Band at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 22; and a second performance by the Lowell Chamber Orchestra at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9.

The Fall 2023 season kicked off on September 16 with a performance by the Lowell Chamber Orchestra at the Academic Arts Center. All concerts are free and open to the public.

MCC’s Concert Hall is located in Henderson Hall at 591 Springs Rd. in Bedford. Parking is available on-campus. For more information, visit www.middlesex.mass.edu/worldofmusic/.