Lovestruck Balladeers and Young Pianists

My first attendance at a live concert in months brought many emotions and memories. First, and foremost I was reminded how much pure joy radiates from ragtime and traditional jazz. I was listening to the Lovestruck Balladeers in the John Edson Anglin Performing arts Auditorium at East Central College (ECC) where I taught for many years. And yes, the gentleman for whom the theater is named, and my dear friend, was in the audience to the delight of the performers. This concert was added to the performance calendar when it was learned that the group would be in the area. Dalton Ridenhour is a well-known New York pianist and had been a student of Dr. Jennifer Judd in the summers while he was attending the Berklee School of Music several years ago. Dalton is from a beautiful small town, St. James Missouri, just 45 minutes south of the college. Dr. Judd is a renowned pianist and teacher at ECC, respected for her own remarkable talent and for the annual concert series she arranges for the college. I was blessed to join the Balladeers for dinner and had an opportunity to meet the group personally. We were joined by Bonnie Ridenhour, Dalton’s exuberant mother who came with a group from St. James. She reminded me how important parent support i