MONMOUTH, ILL. — Students of Monmouth College will finally get to see a different side of Daniel M. Reck, the school's Assistant Director of Greek Life, Leadership, and Involvement. He will perform solo handbell music for the college's final chapel service of the academic year on Monday, May 2. The prelude will begin at noon, and he will be accompanied by Leo Ramer.
"It was great to collaborate with Rev. Ott for the chapel service during Greek Week", says Reck, who advises the college's fraternity system. "So I jumped at the opportunity to once again support spiritual life at the college."
In his day job, Reck conferences with student leaders to help them accomplish their organizations' goals. However, his musical alter-ego isn't completely a secret.
"Daniel and I would spend an hour talking about Pi Phi... or handbells," jabbed one of his students, Haleigh Turner, while thanking Reck for his three years of service to Monmouth College before he moves on from the college this summer. The remark was made during her address at the recent Greek Life Awards banquet.
A Triplet of Performances
Besides the May 2 chapel service, Reck will perform in two other handbell-related events in Monmouth.
On Saturday, April 23, he will also perform solo literature during the 7 p.m. Easter Vigil service held at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church at 210 West Broadway. There, he will also be accompanied by Ramer, who serves at the church's music director and is a local music instructor.
The next day, Reck will conduct Filluché, the handbell ensemble at the First Lutheran Church at 116 South B Street. The prelude will begin about 10:25 a.m. Reck's performance last year with the Shadows of Bronze at the First Lutheran Church was noted on the front page of Monmouth's Review Atlas.
Reck has been performing on handbells for eighteen years and has performed solo literature and conducted handbell ensembles in the United States, Canada, the Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, and France.