I have to admit it was not the most practical of ideas. It was what some of my colleagues would call “liminal”. The notion to gather a collection of amateur and semi-professional musicians to perform at a free concert on a Sunday afternoon already devoted to the Super Bowl and all of its ancillary celebrations, let alone expect people to return to the parish just a few hours after morning services on such a day, was not, on paper, the best idea we’ve ever had. Maybe there’s something to be said to paying more attention to liminal ideas.
On the Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany, eight musicians, ranging from amateurs to semi-professionals to a familiar performer in our area, gathered at Christ Church at 4:00 in the afternoon to offer a church filled with eager listeners an eclectic collection of music. This they did for free, donating their time and talent so that the concert would serve to raise money for Episcopal Relief and Development’s work in Haiti. A couple of musicians, Martin Meyer and Fawn Segerson, even brought their CD’s for sale, donating 100% of the purchase price to ERD.
Among the parishioners from Christ Church who contributed were Judith Kelly, with Jack Rowland, Christ Church’s music director, accompanying on organ, opening the benefit concert with a couple of selections from West Side Story, followed by keyboardist Greg Cava accompanying his daughter Emma, who displayed her remarkable vocal talent with some American standards, not to mention an easy rapport with her audience. Mike Patterson, a frequent worshipper at Christ Church and participant in our Sunday Bible Group, surprised many with his easy and soulful manner with guitar and voice. Martin Meyer, along with a chorus of his family and their friends, covered a Springsteen song best remembered from the days shortly after September 11th, and treated the audience to an original work that was delicate and beautiful. Greg and Marty also provided all of the considerable audio equipment and know-how that was required for the event.
For long-time members of the parish, the biggest treat of the evening was the performance by Fawn Segerson, who grew up at Christ Church, was a member of our choir and youth group, and used to serve us as a substitute organist. As Fawn has now recorded two CDs of her original work, and regularly performs in Manhattan, she brought the concert to its peak with her bright attitude and great professionalism. The evening was made even more special as Fawn’s former piano, organ, and vocal teachers were all present for her performance.
Of course, it wasn’t just parishioners who performed, as we had the participation of friends of the parish Kelly Ruscoe, an up-and-coming guitarist/vocalist, Anne Martindale, a local attorney who performed some classic lounge tunes, and Shrdlu Ashe, one of the best-known musicians and music teachers in our area and a favorite in a surprising number of venues throughout the county.
At evening’s end, the free will donation to Episcopal Relief and Development’s efforts in Haiti totaled over $7000. The benefit concert was a great opportunity for Christ Church members and friends to offer their talents to the community, to open the parish’s doors to those unfamiliar with our church and its mission, and to give an evening’s musical diversion to those who would not necessarily describe themselves as football fans. The concert concluded with the performers and the audience joining in singing “Amazing Grace”.
The concert’s spirit was best captured by the refrain heard from many who attended the post-concert reception in the parish hall, “We should do this more often”. Amen to that.
[Thanks for the traffic, Karin.]
Check out the slideshow [edited by our own Sharon Benedict] here.