Matthew Dunne is a music professor at UTSA, and after 27 years he plans to retire this summer. He has scheduled one last recital with past and present students this weekend.
"It's really been an unbelievable experience,” he said. “I've just had years after years after years of fantastic students, very dedicated students, that have gone on to become wonderful, professional players and just great people. I couldn't have asked for anything more." .
There is one teaching experience that Dunne said stands out above all the rest.
"One of the highlights was this quartet of students I brought to Cuba two years ago. I thought it would be an amazing experience, not only for the students, but for myself as well,” Dunne said. “To meet their peers from a radically different kind of life, but still with a common love of music. And that's why I chose Cuba."
His students were surprised to learn how deeply music is infused in Cuban culture.
"There's a tremendous sense of personal pride in being the best musicians they possibly can be, and music is highly integrated into life in Cuba," he said.
This Sunday at 3 p.m., Dunne will bring together as many of his former students who can come for a parting recital.
"This is a big event for me because it'll be a chance to get many of the students from years past and current students, to all play together in a wonderful location called Heart's Home Acoustics in Boerne, Texas,” Dunne said. “And the manager of the store was my first graduate assistant at UTSA all those years ago."
At the free event the students will play songs they've written, songs he's written, and classics.
