I experienced something last night that I have to share with you. I wish I had pictures. I REALLY, really wish I could show you faces and the general atmosphere of the evening so that maybe I could better articulate all the adjectives going around in my head.
Some back story.....every Friday night we have live music in the Listening Room of our store. The fact that we even has a room named "Listening" is kind of extraordinary in itself, but to have the opportunity to fill that space every week is beyond fantastic. The musical artists we generally have are of the singer-songwriter variety. They share with us love letters, memoirs, eulogies, all carefully wrapped gifts with the note "I hope you like this". It takes so much courage to get up in front of a room full of strangers and bare your heart, and yet they come each week and we are entertained, moved, inspired. I think we sometimes forget what a gift live music really is.
As you may know, our store (JustGoods) is staffed mostly by volunteers. Three of us are paid managers, but the bulk of the work force are folks who acknowledge the mission and want to be part of it. One of those people is Hope. Hope is 15 (I think. She may be 16 now.). She works every Friday afternoon and is a very capable (VERY) capable volunteer. When I was just getting to know her she told me she plays piano. I'm thinking...cool, she plays piano. No really, she PLAYS piano. Classically trained pianist, to be more exact. Wow. From that point on I was on a mission to hear this girl play and we were able to schedule a Friday night concert with Hope and some of her friends from the Rockford Music Academy. That concert was last night.
Regrettably, and I mean the word in its strongest sense, Rockford was a busy town last night and very few people came to watch the performance. I know, life is busy and you have to make a choice, but people, let me just say that I'm sorry you missed it. If you understood what magic happened last night you would be sorry, also. Those few of you that attended know what I mean. Magic. Wow.
Hope organized the entire concert. She asked her friends, timed the performances, introduced herself and the Academy. Each student, I'd guess they were ages 13-17 or so, came dressed concert ready. They introduced themselves and the pieces they were about to perform, some of which were personal compositions. There were several pianists, a violin, two cellists, and two angelic voices. Every single performance was just wonderful.
Before I really turn to mush here let me say a bit about a classically trained musician. I am not a music snob. I believe all music has merit and a place in every heart. However, to be classically trained takes a level of discipline that we don't see much of in today's teens. Hours of practice, lessons, education. Hours of understanding what music is, how it works, and how to let it into your heart. How to let it become passion.
Ok, bring on the mush. Thanks to the wonder that is Google, I found this picture of Hope and Christiana. Hope is brunette, Christiana blond. Hope and Christiana have been friends since they began piano at age 5. Nearing the end of the second half of the show I was able to close the store and come to sit in the back of the audience and I was blessed out of my shoes. Hope and Christiana played four hands on the piano duets that rocked my world. Their friendship connection was so clear as they played in complete sync with the other. They each sang as the other accompanied. Hope brought out this high note that was so clear and genuine....breathtaking. Literally. Listening to them play I forgot to breathe. Captivated...I was captivated. Then...oh gosh then...Christiana brought up her cello and played while Hope accompanied on piano. I will admit that I have a weakness for the cello. They bleed with emotion and Christiana was superb. I sat in my little back row seat and cried. I was honored to be present. Gifted. Blessed. It was that good.
I'm sure they thought I was mentally impaired as I tried to explain how much their performance meant to me. They were go gracious, thanking me for the opportunity to play. (Good job, Moms.) Thanking me. Goodness.
They made such an impression on those of us present, one of which is our concert organizer, that we are already planning a guest performance from Hope and Christiana in January and then another entire night of just the two of them in the coming months.
I cannot wait.
Dan Fogelberg

