Thankful (In a Sad Time)

Thankful (In a Sad Time)

By David Smooke
This past week has found the Peabody community mourning the loss of Casey Butler, a first-year undergraduate bassoon major.

Written By

David Smooke

This past week has found the Peabody community mourning the loss of Casey Butler, a first-year undergraduate bassoon major. Although I did not know her personally, I have heard many people expound on her many, many gifts as a person and musician. The loss of someone so young who has touched the lives of so many different people is truly saddening, and the entire community feels this sorrow.

 

As we move through this difficult time, I find myself thinking of Casey’s words, that “life is music.” Sometimes those of us who have been fortunate enough to make our careers in music forget the true power of musical expression. We forget the solace found in the sounds that move us as we strive towards the unattainable perfection we envision. Yet all of us entered this field because at some point we found ourselves transported by a musical experience. Therefore, as the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, I am thankful for the wisdom of the young.