GLENVILLE, WV – Glenville State College student Josh Runyon will be performing his senior recital on Friday, May 10 at 7:00 p.m. at the Pioneer Stage, which is located at 10 East Main Street in downtown Glenville.

Runyon’s primary instrument is the guitar, but he will also be playing mandolin and singing in most of the songs performed during the recital. In his free time he also enjoys playing piano, drum set, and electric and standup bass.

“Folks planning to attend the recital will hear two sets of music, one acoustic set and one electric set. The selection of music will be bluegrass, blues, jazz, and rock and roll songs from the 1940s to the mid-1970s,” Runyon said.

After graduation he plans to continue his musical career by performing, trying to secure a job in the audio engineering world, or as a studio musician.

“I’d like to thank Dr. Jason Barr for teaching me all of my music theory knowledge and giving me a shot my first semester here playing in the GSC Jazz Combo Band. To me, that was one of the best learning experiences I’ve had here at Glenville. I’d also like to thank Dr. Megan Darby for having me in the GSC Bluegrass Band and bringing me along to many performance and places I’d otherwise never have gotten to go on my own. Many thanks to her for pushing me to learn to play the mandolin – without her guidance, I would not be half the mandolin player I am today,” he said.

During his time at GSC he has been part of almost every musical ensemble that the Department of Fine Arts offers. “I’ve worked behind the scenes with the marching band and the percussion ensemble. I’ve performed choir concerts and traveled around the state with both of the jazz bands. I’ve also traveled across the country with the bluegrass band and recorded at world-class studios with bluegrass legends. You could say I’ve made it worth my while to be here,” he said.

Runyon grew up in Roane County in the small town of Newton, West Virginia.

“I think that the community support for the Fine Arts Program here at Glenville is tremendous. You always see many smiling faces at our performances…some new, some you’ve never seen before, but always smiling,” Runyon said.

“I also have to extend a large amount of gratitude to my parents, Paul and Linda Runyon. Without them I wouldn’t have made it through college. They are always there to support me when I need it, and to give me a reality check when I need that too. I love them very dearly, as well as my older sister Courtney Camp too. She’s contributed to a few of those reality checks,” he added.

Runyon’s senior recital is free to attend and open to the public.