I was recently asked to write an article for a weekly newspaper, The Advocate, located in Berkshire County, Massachusetts. We moved from there to here last June. There are other individuals and organizations I wanted to write about, but the word count limit prevails! Here is the link:
The Classical Music Beat
By JOHN NEWELL
Down East Maine Boasts a Richness of Culture
My friend Stephen Dankner invited me to share with you my take on classical music in a remote corner of the United States – Down East coastal Maine. Could there be any “culture” east of Bar Harbor? As they say, “You betcha.”
Last June my wife and I moved to Lubec, “the easternmost town in the U.S.” Like many others from away, we were drawn here by the natural beauty of the area. I had also become aware of the area’s cultural riches, in the visual arts and in a thriving music scene.
There aren’t a lot of people in the small towns of Washington County; but there is a very strong sense of community. This is a characteristic shared by the musicians here. Whether they have grown up or moved here they are dedicated to sharing their talents and sustaining a richness of cultural opportunity.
As in the Berkshires the “summer” season tends to get the most attention. The Machias Bay Chamber Concerts feature a stimulating variety of internationally known soloists and ensembles (the St. Lawrence String Quartet is a perennial favorite).
The SummerKeys program has become a cultural (and financial) boon for the area. SummerKeys was founded in 1991 by Bruce Potterton, a well known piano teacher in Manhattan. Its focus is on the adult amateur musician who wants the opportunity to become immersed in music study and practice. There are no admission requirements and students of all levels attend.
Summerkeys attracts students from all over the country, as well as Europe and Asia; over 350 students participated in 2011. Its original focus was on the piano, but now programs are offered in strings, winds, celtic harp, mandolin, guitar, voice, trumpet and composition. Programs in photography, creative writing and mixed media art have been added, as well as two weeks of orchestra.
The success of Summerkeys lies, I believe, in two things: the uniqueness of the program and the excellent faculty that Bruce has put together, most of whom are active in the New York City area. Many students return year after year to work with highly accomplished musicians and teachers.
What happens when the summer folk leave? After a week or two of kicking back, it’s very easy to get busy in music again. One of the mainstays of the area is the Passamaquody Bay Symphony Orchestra, a community orchestra based in Eastport. From its inception in 2007 it has been a collaborative endeavor of musicians from both sides of the border.
The orchestra prepares two concerts during the year, performing in three venues: Machias, Eastport and in St. Andrews-By-the-Sea. During the summer it collaborates with the Summerkeys program.
The orchestra is conducted by Trond Saeverud. Originally from Norway, Trond and his wife moved here full time about ten years ago. Like many transplants he first came to Maine for the summers.
Trond is a master at choosing from the standard repertoire works that highlight the players’ capabilities. He is patient and experienced in working with players of different skill levels. And here’s something original for a community orchestra: On last spring’s concert they performed the Beethoven Violin Concerto, with Trond both conducting and performing the solo violin part. This could happen only because Trond is also a marvelous violinist. He combines a passionate sensibility with an elegant and refined sound. Check out his CD entitled “Ghosts,” which features works by contemporary Norwegian composers.
The Eastport Arts Center, home venue for the PBSO, is a hub of artistic activity, sponsoring an art gallery, its own film and concert series, and a theater group. One of its most important programs is the Eastport Strings, a children's ensemble directed by Alice St. Clair.
Another highly successful effort for developing the musical skills of local youth is the Washington County Children’s Chorus. Under director Christine Guy the chorus has performed throughout eastern Maine and way beyond, presenting concerts in Washington DC, Chicago, and even Luxembourg.
Educational programs such as these are critical to the vitality of a musical community. They help to assure that music is passed to the next generation, and doesn’t merely exist in a museum-like setting.
No discussion of the Down East music scene would be complete without highlighting Gene Nichols. Gene is professor of music at the University of Maine in Machias. Truly a protean – and polyglot – musical personality, he conducts the UMM Chorale, but also leads the Ukulele Club and town band.
A talented composer as well, Gene is best known for his ability to play an incredible variety of instruments: the saw, Theremin, recorders, percussion, synthesizer, hubcaphone (one of many he has built)… you get the idea. In all this Gene is dedicated to involving others in the making of music. That is, as we’ve seen, a common characteristic of musicians in Down East Maine.
John Newell is a composer now living in Lubec, Maine. Send your comments to him
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