There is nothing more heartbreakingly beautiful than a concert hall full of grieving musicians.

Last Monday night, CMU lost Gladys "Josie" Varela in a car accident; a violinist in the orchestra who was double majoring in Violin Performance and Studio Art.

I won't lie and say we were close, because we weren't, though I did consider her a friend. One of those distant friends that you don't really hang out with, but you're always happy to see them and say hello. We only really knew each other through orchestra, and even then we sat on the opposite side of the room, but we're a small enough group that everyone knows everyone within the first two or three rehearsals.

Wednesdays in the CMU Music Department mean recital hours, a chance for people to play whatever they've been working on in front of an audience of their peers and possibly receive some feedback. This Wednesday was different. Recital Hour turned into a memorial concert for Josie, a sort of private service for her classmates and teachers.

I'll be honest, I don't really remember much of specifics, though I'm writing this mere minutes after leaving the hall. It was too emotional for that - too teary to see. I do know it was beautiful, though.

(Thank you, Carmen and Sammi, for bringing tissues and passing them out to everyone beforehand. They were put to very good use.)

This is a situation I'd hoped to never witness again - a whole orchestra, a whole department, brought to it's knees overnight. But we're finding strength in each other, too, leaning on one another to make it through the days.

It's not easy, it never will be, but all we can hope to do now is cherish the time we have with each other, and remember Josie as the talented and hardworking friend she was, and the inspiration she will always be.