It was another magical evening here in Oysterville – another House Concert to be remembered!  The musicians, in full concert regalia, played to a packed house – an audience who gave their rapt attention to a program that included the selections from Bach, Haydn, and Debussy.
     Three of the four musicians were familiar to peninsula audiences.  Vocalist Brooke Flood  grew up here and we have watched her amazing development as a singer, a dancer, and an actor. Her passion is musical theater and, among other selections, she graced us with “On My Own” from “Les Miserables.”
      Violinist Jeffrey Reynolds and cellist Andrew Emlen have played here many times over the past ten years, singly, with other groups,  and together as the Emlen & Reynolds Duo and performing the Music of Lewis and Clark. They both have had extensive musical experience.
      Jeffrey, based in Astoria, has played in many groups, including the Symphony Orchestras of Redding, Rogue Valley and Columbia, the Yaquina and Umpqua Chamber Orchestras, Peter Britt Festival Orchestra, the Heather Christie Band, Humours of Circumstance, the violin duo Violince with Marty Jennings.
     Andrew lives near Skamokawa. He began playing at age 9, and by high school had won multiple regional solo competitions and earned a number of honors, including first chair in the Oregon All-State Orchestra. A Campbell Music Scholar at Whitman College, where he was winner of the Whitman Concerto Competition, he has since performed as a member of many classical chamber groups.  He also plays in the folk band Willapa Hills (who played here at last month’s House Concert.)
     It was pianist Ronald Thompson, pivotal member of last evening’s recently formed quartet, who was ‘new’ to Oysterville.  Though only twenty-four years old, Ron’s musical credentials include two performances at Carnegie Hall and a performance at the International Music Festival in Prague, Czech Republic as well as well as performances with many orchestras and classical groups .  Originally from Texas, he has lately lived in Astoria and is now in Battleground.    Ron has been working as accompanist to Brooke who is currently a sophomore at George Fox University in nearby Newburg, Oregon.
     Andrew shared with us how the the members of the group converged.  “Last fall at the Water Music Festival, “young musicians” were featured before each performance.  Brooke was one of those young people and I was struck by her voice.  ‘She can really sing!’ I thought.  Then I noticed her accompanist, Ron.  ‘He can really play, I thought…”  Upon learning that Ron makes his living as a piano tuner, Andrew had him come tune his piano
     “It was a total ruse – although I did get my piano tuned!” Andrew laughed.  “I dragged out my cello and it all fell into place!”
     The rest seems to be making history, as they say.  We certainly look forward to a return visit here in Oysterville.  As for me, I look forward to another up-close-and-personal opportunity to enjoy watching the musicians appreciate and enjoy one another’s performances – a rare privilege afforded to House Concert goers!