San Juan College Symphonic Band trumpets the arrival of the holiday season

Band features Delbert Anderson and Ben Ludwig

Photos by Crystal Shelton

Special to Tri-City Record

Monday, Dec 11, 2023 11:11 AM MT

Updated Tuesday, Dec 12, 2023 5:36 PM MT

Delbert Anderson performs a solo during the San Juan College Symphonic Band concert on Friday, Dec. 8, 2023. As an homage to Jacob C Morgan, Delbert performed the solo for “The Holy City” like Morgan would have performed it. (Crystal Shelton/Special to Tri-City Record)Crystal Shelton

The San Juan College Symphonic Band on Friday performed at Henderson Art Center in Farmington, providing the audience two hours of Christmas music featuring trumpeters Delbert Anderson and Ben Ludwig and the band, led by Teun B. Fetz, director of instrumental music at the school.

Anderson grew up in Kirkland and began playing the trumpet in fourth grade. He taught at San Juan College for six years and remained friends with Fetz, associate professor at the college

During the concert, Anderson played “The Holy City” in honor of Jacob C. Morgan, a local musician and activist who was known to play regularly at Orchard Park, as well as Morgan Lake, which is named after him.

Anderson has been trying to restore the legacy of Morgan, whose archives were destroyed under accidental yet suspicious circumstances legacy. On Friday, Anderson played “The Holy City” in Morgan’s style.