Music provides an escape. It’s healing. And in spite of what you may think, even teenagers adore Beethoven.
This morning I walked past the retro-festive refreshments table and toward the room where I’d helped answer phones during the recent pledge drive. Gorgeous, flawless classical music was playing, and I thought, “They must be taking a break between performers.” I walked quietly and, just in case, peeped in through the door’s window. A thin, shy-looking young man wearing glasses was playing a clarinet. My jaw dropped.
“Hey, Heather,” Patrick Klausen said, waving me into the adjoining room and toward a chair next to the picture window.
“That’s not a recording?” I asked, disbelieving.
He smiled. “Nope. That’s Patrick Moeller.”
When he finished, everyone broke into applause. “He was good,” I said.
The look on Patrick’s face said, “That’s what it’s all about.”
I was immediately impressed by the professionalism young Mr. Moeller and the other performers seemed to possess. Half a dozen people sat in the room, clicking pictures or taking video, while multiple pairs of eyes peeped through windows on all sides. And yet, the performers did not seem shaken by the “fishbowl” feeling they must’ve had.
As a high school teacher, I am constantly and pleasantly surprised by some of the young people that live in our region. Talented, kind, and hard-working—it makes me proud to be a part of this community.
Next up was Eun-Song Koh, ready to jet off to college back east in the fall. Her eyes closed in ecstasy half the time, I felt as if I was watching a conversation between this young woman and her piano.
During her post-performance interview with Verne Windham, Eun-Song said piano was going to be her minor. “I’m going to major in violin. Violin is like a friend to me,” she went on. I just shook my head. If her conversation with piano was this good, I wanted to see her play violin, too!
Watching this old, old music being channeled through the young, nimble fingers of Musicfest Northwest performers was both eerie and enchanting. I had work to do, but I felt rooted to my seat.
Following Miss Koh was Margaret Klein, who would be playing a Beethoven sonata. For those of you who think teenagers in the Pacific Northwest only vent their frustrations at Tech N9ne shows or at “Twilight” premieres, think again. The intense, angsty expression on Margaret’s face rivaled Bella Swan’s and belied the sweet, white crocheted sweater she wore over her pink dress.
“My family has moved several times,” she said afterwards. “Whenever I used to get angry, I would play that song…It’s serious stuff.”
