Gorgeous Sounds Residency
I have been involved with music for over 25 years now; I have performed all over the world, I have worked with some of the world's most famous musicians, I have had tremendous opportunities with music, yet, I stand humbled and in awe after working with the children of the Columbia Gorge area in the Northeast.
The Vinca Quartet is wrapping up our second visit to the area of Hood River, OR and White Salmon, WA and it's been a pleasure playing for these communities. What's so fascinating to me is the curiosity, interest, and enthusiasm students have for music. This is like walking into a wonderful paradise where the views are breathtaking and the audiences welcome us with open arms. It feels wonderful to be able to contribute and share our passion with so many people. And to look out at such young audiences!
I can think of so many concerts where young children have been brought along with parents, perhaps to force the child away from the Television, perhaps because the babysitter fell through. By no means do I mean to imply that this is the only context in which children and teens come to concerts. I know that there are young people out there who enjoy live music concerts, however the aforementioned scene is an all too familiar one.But not here! In the Dalles, OR on Super Bowl Sunday, right after kick-off, the Vinca Quartet presented a program of music by Schubert, Zemlinsky and Schumann. Primarily young elementary through high school-aged student brought along their parents, who were equally intrigued by this magical musical world within two hours, and packed the house.
Every concert we have played out here has been equally attended by those under the age of 18 and those over it; THIS I have never seen! And the imagination these students have is awesome! One of the exercises we have done with students in schools is to have them close their eyes and imagine that the music they hear is a soundtrack. Then we ask the students to tell us what "movie" is playing on their imaginary movie screen. Playing Zemlinsky's 4th String Quartet, a piece written in the 1930s, students heard everything from chase scenes, to Tinkerbelle sprinkling a sleeping village with fairy dust, to rats running across the kitchen floor. These students' imagination and sensitivity to the nuance in the composition would have made Zemlinsky beam with pleasure, not to mention our quartet!
The musical world at large may get a "doom-and-gloom" message once in a while, the infamous Cleveland Orchestra just went on strike, however the power of music is alive and well in the Columbia Gorge. The energy and inspiration the young families here have charged our batteries, invigorated our mission to bring the beauty of music to all people, and lifted our spirits. We are privileged to be able to share our music, and are thankful to all who have made the Gorgeous Sounds Residency possible.
