First, thanks for your wonderful comments and favs on my dragonfly in flight!
On to the collage: Hard to believe we sat three rows away from internationally known Garrick Ohlsson performing on what had been his personal and was now Beaver Island's newly acquired 1916 Mason & Hamlin concert grand piano. While more likely to play major international venues, he agreed to perform the piano's inaugural concert at the BI Community Center to celebrate the Island's acquisition and say good-bye to a favorite instrument. So memorable an evening of receptions and main event. I was able to attend everything as the photographer because the one hired for the occasion was unable to make it at the last minute, and Anne (organizer, at piano) asked if I'd step in. WOW!
People photos: White tux - Ohlsson during standing ovation #3; Peeker at piano - Director for Baroque on Beaver; Anne at piano - organizer and leader of the 'cause' to obtain the piano.
Background for those interested...
Through a serendipitous combination of connections (professional piano tuner who lives part time on Beaver Island worked long-term with Ohlsson in rebuilding and tuning his collection of concert grand pianos), dedication of residents who have built Baroque on Beaver to a major summer event that now includes an array from jazz to baroque, and generous donors, in one year funds were raised, piano identified, transportation/care fund established, storage (climate control area exists because of piano tuner resident), and the Ohlsson performance arranged for the celebration. I am in awe that someone would actually be in a position (think of the space needed) to collect concert grand pianos!).
Wiki page describing Ohlsson: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garrick_Ohlsson
Mason&Hamlin antique pianos: http://antiquepianoshop.com/online-museum/mason-hamlin/
How absolutely thrilling to be able to step in on such an exciting event! Piano is my first instrument and still my first love in music, though I only have the one!! Loved reading this and well done on the lovely photos.
How wonderful to be asked to do the photos Taffy you must be really chuffed! Sounds like s wonderful event a great reward for all that hard work! Great collage fav!
What an amazing experience and how brave of you to step in. I would certainly have loved to have been there (although not as photographer). You did a great job putting some of these special photos together.
@jgpittenger Thanks Jane! Beaver Island is remarkable - a very strong sense of community combined with a desire to provide the kind of services/infrastructure that will make it a vibrant one for residents, seasonal residents, and visitors. Baroque on Beaver Is only one example of how a small idea grew into something sustainable. Then, there's the Community Center -- another idea many thought didn't stand a chance, and now it's a top notch venue for supporting visitors and hosting events, with a top notch sound system and lighting influenced by members from the acting community who are seasonal residents. Someone else got the Rural Health Center to move from dream to reality. We've been coming up here since 1981 and had our place since 1991 -- we love the place and the community.
Just read your comment to @jgpittenger and totally agree that the people on Beaver Island must be pretty special folks with lots of get-up-and-go. More power to their respective and collective arms.
Your island sounds a lot like the one I live on - Salt Spring Island, BC. There is a lot of energy to make things happen. Congratulations for being able to step in and be the the official photographer.
What a story behind this collage! Beaver Island sound like a community that makes life worthwhile. Somewhere to retreat to while working and look forward to eventually moving to permanently.
@joansmor I suspect not so much. In fact, a delegation from Beaver Island visited the Maine Island Institute 2 years ago and learned a lot, saw a lot of impressive infrastructure and creative value added in your islands. They brought ideas back, including starting a Great Lakes Collaborative as modeled by the Maine Island group. It's now up and running and the first conference of Great Lakes 'Unbridged' Islands is happening this September. So something good is going on in Maine's group to have prompted this initiative!
@taffy Cool to know that. There is also the Maine Island Trial Association so you can boat from island to island. I don't boat but saw a great documentary on it recently.
July 18th, 2017
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be able to catch such great shots. Lovely story too.