me arts ed

Fun evening at the Merrill Auditorium

Sophie and Josie, photograph by Langley Willauer

What a delight to attend the performance of “From the Top” at the Merrill Auditorium last Wednesday evening. I felt so proud of all the students who participated but especially our Maine young folks. Teenage violin playing sisters Josie and Sophie Davis from Waldoboro performed Largo ma non tanto from Concerto in D Minor by Johann Sebastian Bach. Wilson Bristol from Freeport performed on the piano Tocacata from Dianne Goolkasian Rahbee’s Sonata No. 1. It was a special treat to have Dianne in the audience and join the interview with Wilson.

The host of the National Public Radio Show From the Top, Christopher O’Riley, was charming and it was special to have the opportunity to not only hear him in person, but to watch him in action.

I could hear the excitement of the audience with the warm applause offered each time the opportunity arose. My husband and I sat next to two young boys (about 6 years old) and their mom’s. I couldn’t help but think someday in the future they will have great memories of attending the performance with their parents.

After the performance we attended the reception and were thrilled to meet the performers, their families, friends, and the members of the From the Top staff. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting their Director of Education, Linda Gerstle, and learning more about their M.S. Lindsay Arts Leadership Program. They firmly believe that “young people can make an important contribution to the world by sharing who they are and what they love to do..”

It is a shared belief and I see it as one of our responsibilities as arts educators. I look forward to hearing this performance of From the Top on the radio and hearing it all over again.