For one Brigham Young University student, playing the banjo and a passion for soccer seemed worlds apart—until he was invited to play with his bluegrass band at the World Cup this summer in Seoul, Korea.
Jared Peterson, a graduate student in information systems management at BYU’s Marriott School of Management, traveled to the World Cup with his four-man band, Long Gone. The band played tunes for a Georgia-based clogging group, the Southern Belles, at pre-match stadium celebrations.
Hundreds of thousands of exuberant spectators took in pre-match entertainment provided by performers from the countries matched up on the field. Long Gone and the Southern Belles represented the United States as part of the 2002 CIOFF International Folklore Festival in Korea. The groups performed outside the stadium before the U.S.-Korea and U.S.-Portugal games.
“I’ve always been an avid soccer fan, so this opportunity was something I really wanted,” Peterson said. “The experience was indescribable.”
In addition to sports, music has a long history in his life. His dad, who he calls “100 percent cowboy”, encouraged him to play the guitar and banjo at a young age. The guitar was too big for him back then, says Peterson, so he stuck with the banjo. “Playing banjo is incredibly relaxing, and it’s provided me an opportunity to travel the world.” Plus, he adds, “I hear girls like banjo players. I hope it’s true.”
Peterson, who is about to start the last year of a master’s program in information systems at the Marriott School, says, “I love getting together with my friends to play. It’s a great way to meet a lot of interesting people and to make some extra money.”
Members of Long Gone met and decided to form their own group while playing together in the BYU Folk Ensemble. Band members are Joseph Andersen, an international studies major, who plays bass; Jonathan Gray, a microbiology major, who plays guitar; and Andrew Williams, a technology education major, who plays the fiddle and mandolin.
Jared Rowe, who earned a BS in information systems management from the Marriott School in 2001, traveled with the group to Korea and filled in on guitar for Jonathan Gray, who was unable to make the trip.
“We’ve played at the Olympics, fundraisers, private parties and BYU events,” says Peterson. “But one of the most rewarding opportunities to-date was playing The Star-Spangled Banner—bluegrass style—before U.S. matches at the World Cup.”
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Writer: Michael Johanson