Marilyn Anderson’s Advocacy of School Music Honored

Marilyn Anderson in the Elementary School Music Room, now dedicated to her.

In a small ceremony on Monday, June 4, Marilyn Anderson was honored for her contributions to the Orcas Island School District, especially for her efforts through the Music Advocacy Group.

A highlight of the event, held in the Elementary School Music Room, was the unveiling of a plaque noting Anderson’s “unrelenting” efforts on behalf of the school music programs and teachers, and dedicating the room to her.

School Superintendent Barbara Kline made the opening remarks: “It seems to me Marilyn’s always been there …the kind of glue that holds us all together.”

District Board Member and Orcas Island Education Foundation President, Janet Brownell said to Marilyn, “You represent community — not just the schools — and we’re just the tip of the iceberg here today saying thank you so much.”

Coleen O’Brien, former elementary principal, said, “Over the long years … our music program fluttered and failed until Marilyn entered the scene… Hard times have come and gone and come again and had it not been for Marilyn and the MAG group …figuring out how this would happen, we might not have had the successful music program we have today, and Marilyn made sure we did.”

Catherine Pederson, another Music Advocacy Group founder said, “Speaking for  the MAG group, we have said jokingly over the years we have been a pit bull, unrelenting; we were not about to let the music program founder — ever.

“In the last few years we’ve seen it flourish. Last Thursday night was such a tribute to all those years of almost-failure and coming to really beautiful success and Marilyn has been at the center of it all. You have kept it going and made it possible.”

Joyce Burghardt, also a MAG founding member, clarified that the MAG group was “the sweetest pitbulls” and thanked Anderson for her financial acumen.

Rick Gould praised Anderson’s generosity and self-effacement in her involvement with the Chamber Music Festival and the Animal Protection Society.

MAG cof-founder Victoria Parker added that in 2007 the Chamber Music Festival board — of which Marilyn was a member — voted to offer annual acknowledgment to a ” graduating senior who demonstrated that music was an important part of their life — that is the criteria . Just this spring we added Marilyn’s name to that award. And I truly believe that the partnership  that the Chamber Music Festival has with ‘the sweet pit bulls’ as well the school and its willingness — the administration and the staff and the school board — to agree that music is a critical part of our lives we all made it happen with you and because of you.”

Gil Blinn recalled the companionship of Marilyn and Rachel Adams on the Orcas A Cappella Singers’ 2006 tour of Europe, where they revisited Marilyn’s earlier Army postings in Germany.

Music teacher Pamela Wright thanked Marilyn for her support of the school music program and Islands’ Sinfonia, where Marilyn played the violin.

School Board President Tony Ghazel summed up the appreciation for the Music Advocacy Guild and Marilyn Anderson’s part in making that happen, saying, “Our kids have great opportunities to learn music on this island, from renowned musicians. I remember when my son was in 6th grade playing clarinet and his backup was Jon Kimura Parker — who knows? That is part of the legacy that you made possible, and again thank you very much.”

High School students Mackie Blackburn, Brigid Ehrmantraut and Robin Gropp entertained the group with improvised and composed pieces.

Marilyn Anderson and Rachel Adams will be moving from their Mount Woolard home to the Redmond area this summer, after many years on Crane Island and Orcas Island.