2. When you think about the unique role of a musician in a community, how would you describe how the role has changed post-COVID-19 pandemic?

Robert Nicholson, cellist:

If I may flip the question, what has struck me most is the role of the community in the musician. In the longest period of my life without concerts, the few (masked, distanced) times I’ve played for actual breathing people have meant a lot – and have felt like coming back to myself. Music is not something I do, it is something we do, as a community; because no matter how hard we work as musicians, the alchemy that turns mere playing into a performance only happens with an audience.

Erica Ward:

I do not think our role has changed – rather, I think many are awakening to the realms of possibilities beyond the traditional role of “musician” in this pandemic season. We have discovered our role much more deeply as messengers and peace-bringers, and are being forced to adapt to new ways to meet our listeners. I think this is especially exciting for musicians of faith, because they have the potential to use their role in a far more intentional and personal way than they might have previously thought about.