MAG Concert a “Triumph” for the School Music Programs

The Orcas A Cappellagos, formed by Jules Mann, gave a stunning and sweetly-pitched performance at the School Music Matters concert on March 3.  Photo courtesy of Kristin Wilson

By Margie Doyle

Over 100 musicians and over 300 audience members, music lovers all, jumped to their feet for a standing ovation to the High School Band’s spine-tingling rendition of “Loch Lomond, ” complete with bagpipes.

There were many such soul-stirring moments during the March 3  annual School Music Program benefit concert, presented by the Music Advocacy Group (MAG),  a non-profit formed 16 years ago. “It was a triumph!” said MAG’s current president, Catherine Pederson.

Marilyn Anderson, a founding member of MAG, was honored with a $5,000 donation to MAG in her name. The donation came about through the initial contribution of Joe Cohen and Martha Farish, with additional contributions from the boards of Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival, the Orcas Island Community Foundation and Orcas Island Education Foundation, as well as private donors.

The audience rose to their feet as one to acknowledge Anderson’s conviction that “School Music Matters!” Anderson recently sold her Orcas Island home and will be moving to Redmond, Washington — but she will  return regularly to Orcas, she promises.

Another highlight of the afternoon was the performance of Orcas a Cappellagos, a high school choir formed by high school senior Jules Mann. They performed “Rivers and Roads” with guitar accompaniment, and “Lean on Me” with accompaniment by the Orcas Youth Orchestra, directed by Pamela Wright. Jules Mann said that forming the high school choir has long been a dream of hers, but she couldn’t get it off the ground until MAG came to her assistance.

Joyce Burghardt, Patty Johnson and Marilyn Anderson — Campfire Girls all, pondering which song to sing (or how to support school music programs?) at the 2013 MAG reception on March 3.

Dimitri Stankevich served as Master of Ceremonies, and Joe Babcock was Guest Conductor for the Finale, a combined performance of  “God Bless America” by Irving Berlin. Babcock, who also spoke on “Why School Music Matters,” threw away his prepared comments, saying they paled in comparison to the music performed by the school and community groups.

Martin Lund, director of the Orcas Youth Orchestra, led that group in his own arrangement of “Loch Lomond,” with Ian Lister playing on the bagpipies.

The huge gym was blacked out for a short video, made by MAG Advisory Committee member Ed Wilson,  of the Orcas schools’ music groups in rehearsal and performance. The video included testimonials by Jim Shaffer-Bauck, Moana Kutsche and Joyce Burghardt, who is also a founding member of MAG. When the lights came back on, several in the audience could be observed wiping away tears.

The love of singing and music comes through as the women, who have played and sung with the Community Band, the Orcas Choral Society and the Music Advocacy Group for years, burst into song.

Other island music groups that performed for the Sunday afternoon concert were:

• Island Sinfonia under the direction of Ned Griffin,  which played from Copland’s “Appalachian Spring” and selections from Lerner and Loewe’s Broadway musicals;
• Orcas Choral Society, directed by Roger Sherman, which sang the first three movements of Mozart’s “Requiem;”
• Orcas Island Community Band conducted by Jim Shaffer-Bauck in a movement by Gustav Holst and by Karen Key Speck in “Hogan’s Heroes March” and the maraca-laced “Whipped Cream” by Neville.

A reception, organized by Lynne Howe, followed the performance.

Those who wish to contribute to MAG, a non-profit organization, may send checks and comments to:

Music Advocacy Group
PO Box 1171
Eastsound WA 98245