One of our adult cellists who lives in Palmer, has a famous father who teaches music and performs in Colorado. He has arranged a 2-movement trumpet concerto by Leopold Mozart for strings, and will perform it with us during the March Spring Break week. Originally from El Paso, Texas, Larry received his business degree from New Mexico State University, where he picked up his early playing experiences, performing with every ensemble that used the trumpet.

His performing career includes: fifteen seasons with the El Paso Symphony, nine as the second trumpet and a decade split as the principal trumpet with El Paso’s Pro-Musica and the Bruce Nehring Consort (a chamber chorus and orchestra). He was a founding member of El Paso’s Quintessential Brass, which is currently one of the country’s longest continually running brass quintets. Locally, he’s the founder of Fort Collins’ Colorado Brass Company, and regularly plays with the Fort Collins Wind Symphony.

He’s been a soloist with the El Paso Symphony, the Bruce Nehring Consort, the Front Range Chamber Players, the Laudamus chamber chorus, the Larimer Chorale and Ethos West. He has also performed with the Fort Collins and Cheyenne Symphonies, the Front Range Chamber Players, and currently serves as the principal trumpet for the Larimer Chorale.

Along the way, he’s played for or with a host of orchestral soloists and quite a range of other celebrities and acts, including Wynton Marsalis, Clark Terry, Andy Williams, Johnny Mathis, The Four Tops, Red Skelton, Shari Lewis (and Lamb Chop), Rita Moreno, Twila Paris, Juan Gabriel, the Empire Brass, Les Elgart, The Ringling Brother’s Barnum and Bailey Circus and The Ice Capades. We are very fortunate to have Larry as our upcoming March soloist!!

Nancy Blockcolsky grew up in Kansas City, Kansas. She began her public singing career at a very young age. As part of a family quartet, she sang at nursing homes and church functions. She participated in select choirs during high school and received Division I ratings for vocal solos at State Music Festival. She was a soprano soloist and section leader at Baker University and performed a senior recital of songs in Italian, French, German, and English. She received a bachelor’s degree in music education from Baker University, where she studied voice with Dr. William Gaeddert. In graduate school, she studied voice with Dr. Jean Sloop at Kansas State University. In recent years, she studied voice with Stephanie Spyker and presented a full voice recital in Manhattan.

Mrs. Blockcolsky studied piano with Carol Mueller from 5th through 12th grades. She played the piano in numerous auditions and competitions from elementary school through high school, winning blue ribbons as well as Division I ratings at Kansas State Music Festival. As a student at Baker University, Mrs. Blockcolsky frequently performed as an accompanist. She received a master’s degree in piano performance with a pedagogy emphasis from Kansas State University, where she studied piano with Dr. Virginia Houser.

Currently a resident of Olsburg, Kansas, Mrs. Blockcolsky teaches piano classes and Music Appreciation at Manhattan Christian College, a position she has held since the fall of 2012. She maintains a private studio of up to 20 students in piano and violin. Mrs. Blockcolsky is currently the President of the Manhattan Area Music Teachers Association and Immediate Past President of the Kansas Music Teachers Association. She is concertmistress of the Community Chamber Orchestra and is the music minister at Agape Family Church. She is the community 4-H leader for the Olsburg Boosters 4-H Club.

Mrs. Blockcolsky has served in the music ministry in various capacities—singer, guitarist, pianist, worship leader, bass player. She also writes praise choruses and creates arrangements for church music services. Other current performances include accompanying, performing vocal solos, and providing piano music for weddings, parties and funerals. Her playing encompasses a wide range of musical styles from classical to gospel.

Mrs. Blockcolsky also gives computer lessons to senior citizens. She is the technology minister at Agape Family Church and is the webmaster for the city of Olsburg.

Barry has been playing advanced level literature since he was nine years old. He is currently in the seventh grade, but he is already playing literature normally performed by college piano majors. Even though he plays music from all style periods, he is somewhat of a Mozart specialist.

People who come to this concert will be astounded by Barry's talent. He is quite possibly the best pianist they will have ever heard. And someday, when he is a famous concert pianist, they will be able to say that they heard him perform when he was 13 years old.

Click here to view his biography

This story was taken from the WIBW website. The reporter was Lindsey Rogers. The interview with     Barry on 4/21/13 can be seen here.

LeRoy Johnson performed the Harpsichord Concerto in d Minor by J.S. Bach on Saturday, May 12, 2007 at the Clay Center Rex Theater..