Professional musician Petar Jankovic came to Liberal to provide an evening of culture on campus. The classical guitarist finished his concert performance with a flourish Monday night at Showcase Theatre. His program included a variation of music ranging from Spanish and jazz to classical. “I choose programs very carefully so all my programs are a selection of my favorites,” Jankovic said. Seward student David Linares enjoyed Jankovic’s performance. “One of the songs that I really enjoyed was ‘La Muerte del Angel’,” Linares said. “It had a variety, and it changed pace a lot.” ‘La Muerte del Angel’, introduced by Jankovic, brought in an ethereal mood. The song was written by Spanish composer Astor Piazzolla about his experience with going through surgery and his experience at the hospital. Throughout the show Jankovic introduced all of his pieces and gave background information on each. He commanded the audience’s attention throughout the show, but was very approachable after the show and was willing to answer any questions and sign CDs for audience members. “I was really interested to see his performance,” Linares said. Jankovic has been performing since the age of 8. “To prepare for a show I just play, warm up, do exercises, focus, test the acoustics and get a feel for the stage.” “It was a great crowd. I’d love to come back. The show went very well. It was a very nice crowd and I enjoyed playing here.” The community also liked Jancovic, as he got a standing ovation at the end of his set. Amanda Savage, a student at Seward taking a jazz course, attended the performance for extra credit. “I really enjoyed all his fast-paced songs,” Savage said. In addition to students, members of the community also attended the show. “The turn out was average. It was a solid amount of people, anywhere from 150 to 200 people. But for the size of this town it was a good turn out,” Jankovic said. Some in attendance not only enjoyed seeing this live performance, but would also like to see more on campus in the future. “I would love to see a piano performer, but as long as it’s music, I’m passionate about it,”

Linares said. Earlier Monday, Jankovic, a faculty member at Indiana University, taught a master guitar class on campus to students of surrounding area schools. It was a class for anybody interested in learning about guitar. “The classes went very well,” Jankovic said. “I’ve taught in many places, to both beginners and to higher level students.” Jankovic has been teaching for 24 years; he began at the age of 16. “I teach anything related to guitar and performance,” Jankovic said. “When teaching, I try to address any questions people may ask, anything from technique matters to public performance issues,” Jankovic said. After his performance, Jancovic left Liberal for another concert. “I have an upcoming concert in Minnesota. I play around 30 concerts in a year.”