:: Oregon Aug 6 - 13, 2002 :: :: Wallawa Chamber Music Festival :: << back The intended campsite for the festival was originally the Boy Scout's campground, but a massive mudslide, which did serious damage to the Boy Scout's camp, caused us to choose the Wallowa Lake United Methodist Camp, which was a very nice campground. Jo Ann Snead, the festival coordinator, took us on a nature walk, during which we checked out the damage done to the Boy Scout site. Just one example of the damage: a 40-foot lodge broken in half. Locals tell me it was basically a mud avalanche, with loud rumbling and all. Oh, but why is there a llama pictured? There were other groups using the campgrounds, and they brought some llamas in -- hey, why not?! I led the swing workshop, which was a really cool experience. There were a few rather experienced fiddlers and improvisers in the bunch, and as for those who were less experienced, they were terrific at "call and response". A couple of bees working this flower over. A deer I spotted from the cabin porch. Down the hill from where I was, these deer sleep under the house at night. I played in a quartet with Beth Youngblood (violin), Grant Breischbach (cello), and Leonie Hartmann (viola). Leonie was our coach as well. She was a fantastic player and coach. She normally plays second violin in her orchestra back home in Mainz, Germany. There are the three of them walking down the hill after rehearsal at the Swart cabin. Sister and brother "twin" fiddlers, Beth and Bern, practicing a fiddling tune for an upcoming competition. A cute little girl. Her mom was one of the campers. during the nature walk nature walk In addition to our 5 and 6 hours a day of rehearsing, we managed to squeeze in a "mob rehearsal" of some light pieces we would do as a group at the final concert. This lovely (in every way) violinist has a famous name: Clara Wieck (the "old school" Clara was married to composer Robert Schumann) The festival was coming to a close and it was time to perform the chamber music we had been "shedding". Here I am with the youngest camper, Grace, before the outdoor concert. Grace's brother and a friend had the entrepreneurial spirit. Festival coordinator Jo Ann Snead was at the ready, but when she had a spare moment, she could be found knitting. next page >>