musicians of change or is it warrior musicians? … another recognized musician warrior is gone with the death of South African musician Hugh Masakela … his death has stirred my thoughts about this role … Tryon had its own warrior musician … Nina Simone … she is rightly remembered as the gifted musician she was … yet many are still uncomfortable with her warrior musician status … how does music work for change? … every time one hear taps or a national anthem or a trumpet urging troops to charge … it resonates or hits a chord in the hearts/souls of each person differently … it stirs many to a sense of belonging or pride for what is … but for those who feel the status quo is not the goal line, it brings quite different feelings … that change is needed … music has a power all its own … thus warrior musicians have a very important role … loyalty and love of country sometimes require a hard and uncomfortable look at ourselves, not because we dislike or aren’t proud of what we have achieved, but because we know we can be better

Katharine V.R. Smith, Tryon, N.C.