The legacy of a popular local musician and former Carroll instructor who passed away from cancer was celebrated when Invincible Summer, a day-long music festival, was held on Saturday, August 5th.

The college welcomed students, colleagues, friends, family, fellow musicians and the public to the concert which celebrated the life and accomplishments of Patrick Kisicki.

Kisicki was a passionate musician, composer and educator who had a profound impact on all who knew him, according to Carroll Director of Music Eric McCullough.

He taught music courses, conducted ensembles and coordinated the guitar program at Carroll Community College from 2008-2015. He also taught at Peabody Preparatory, West Middle School, Encore Summer Music Camp, Maryland Performing Arts Institute and at Coffey Music.

Kisicki performed regularly in the tri-state area, most notably with The Table Top Poets and Wildfire Three. Kisicki also generously donated his time, organizing and directing the semi-annual fundraiser called “Kevin’s Concert.” The event was conceived by Kisicki to raise funds and awareness about organ donation. He was named Volunteer of the Year in 2009 by the National Kidney Foundation of Maryland.

In March 2015, Kisicki passed away from cancer. Invincible Summer was created to recognize his gifts and talents. Performers in the festival included students and friends of Kisicki, along with a number of other area artists. In addition to the music, there were outdoor games, food trucks and vendors. All proceeds from the event will fund a music scholarship in Kisicki’s name.

Amanda De Rose, coordinator of Student Activities at Carroll, and McCullough have been planning this music festival for the past year. “After attending a large-scale festival last summer, I wondered why the college wasn’t offering a similar concert. We were excited to bring something new to the college as well as honor a beloved member of the community,” she said.

“Carroll provided the perfect setting for a music festival,” said DeRose. “Yet this event showcased so much more than our facilities. It showed the impact that a former employee can have on others. This event also served to help a selected music student at Carroll through a scholarship in Kisicki's name.”

The bands, each of which performed for 30 minutes, included Basement Flower, Chloe Antulov, the Flying Faders, Sweet Blue Moons, Foggy May, We Love the Underground, Parallel Heights, and the Henchmen.

The event was sponsored by the Campus Activities Board, Carroll County Arts Council, Carroll County Health Department, Carroll County Times, Community Media Center, Follett, Olivia Clark Photography, Team Gantt, The Deep End Studio, and WTTR FM.





Former Carroll instructor, Patrick Kisicki.

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