Sometimes the big moments for a musician happen nowhere near the recital hall or the practice room. Sometimes they happen on the other side of the world, in a classroom with a young student who can鈥檛 read sheet music, and who can barely speak your language.
That鈥檚 where the big moment happened for Patrick Sutton. The guitar performance grad (DMA鈥�14)鈥攃urrently an adjunct at Naropa University and Community College of Denver鈥攚as in Afghanistan, at the National Institute of Music in Kabul. He and cellist Kimberly Patterson (DMA 鈥�12) were invited there for a two-week guest artist residency in January 2014.
鈥淚t was really meaningful teaching music there,鈥� said Sutton. 鈥淢usic was illegal in Afghanistan through the 90s. So now they鈥檙e trying to rebuild music in the younger generations and give kids a chance to play. To be a part of that was amazing.鈥�
Now Sutton, who with Patterson performs and records music as the Patterson/Sutton Duo, says his life is no longer just about making music. It鈥檚 also about bringing music to people who don鈥檛 have the access he鈥檚 always had growing up in Colorado.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 how you can make the biggest impact in the shortest amount of time,鈥� he said. 鈥淚n places like that, people are so desperate for proper music teachers. It鈥檚 so important to find a way to make music a part of their lives.鈥�
After returning to Kabul for another two-week stint in March, Sutton established an ongoing relationship with the National Institute of Music, teaching classes over Skype and helping a local guitarist run the program. But he says the school鈥檚 biggest champion for classical guitar is a 21-year-old student.
鈥淗e鈥檚 really self-directed because he鈥檚 had to go through so much," said Sutton. "He鈥檚 raising nine brothers and sisters, so he鈥檚 a natural fit teaching the younger kids at school.鈥�
The student, like so many Sutton has met, experienced heartbreaking violence in his young life. His father and best friend were killed by the Taliban, and his school was the scene of a suicide bombing during a concert last year. Sutton says it鈥檚 life-changing to hear these stories, and still be met with such joy for music.
鈥淛ust being there for two weeks puts everything in perspective," he said. "They do this to escape the reality of what鈥檚 happening around them every day.鈥�
Sutton鈥檚 musical mission has also taken him to Egypt via Cultures in Harmony. The cultural diplomacy organization, which does outreach with people who don鈥檛 have access to music education, brought Sutton to another realization about his craft: it crosses boundaries.
鈥淚 spent most of my time writing music with an Egyptian band. We played a mix of jazz, rock and traditional Egyptian music," said Sutton. "And even though none of them could read music鈥攁nd I rely so heavily on notation鈥攚e were able to play together and make a connection because that鈥檚 the nature of music. It helped us transcend those differences.鈥�
This summer, Sutton did a tour of South Africa with flutist Cobus Du Toit (MM 鈥�10, DMA 鈥�14), playing concerts in every large city in the country and doing outreach with local schools. Sutton says students still contact him to express their gratitude.
鈥淲e did master classes at the University of South Africa for kids near Pretoria. Just a few weeks ago, one of the students posted on Facebook that he could still remember what we taught him,鈥� he said.
Next up will be a trip with Du Toit to Indonesia, where the pair will present a two-day music camp for kids and perform at a music festival. It鈥檚 part of a journey that Sutton says he intends to continue.
鈥淚鈥檝e seen what music can mean to people,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not just a fun thing that you get to do if you鈥檙e lucky enough to be born with the opportunity. It saves lives.听It鈥檚 the most important thing in the world to them. Sometimes, it鈥檚 the only thing they have.鈥�
Sutton says he could have never traveled the world teaching music if it hadn鈥檛 been for the people he met at the College of Music.
鈥淚 never stayed in my guitar box," he said. "There鈥檚 such a great atmosphere of collaboration and open-mindedness here,鈥� he says. 鈥淵ou have to feed off the people around you to improve as a musician and as a person.听And never say 鈥榥o鈥� to someone who asks you to do something with music. Something else comes from it every time. It could snowball into the coolest thing you鈥檝e ever done.鈥�
Sutton is also a part of the quartet Throw Down or Shut Up! with Associate Professor of Music Theory and pianist Daphne Leong, Thompson Jazz Studies Program Director and saxophonist/flutist John Gunther, and Percussion Instructor Michael Tetreault. They perform as part of the at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 13, in Grusin Music Hall.
