On to Concerts in Ohio

Mt Vernon and Lancaster are charming places. I particularly enjoy when towns retain their central square. Ohio is a beautiful place, just like the song is named "The Beautiful Ohio."
The people are all so friendly. In fact, everywhere we have been we enjoy talking with the citizens best of all.
In Mt Vernon, we performed at a gorgeous theater built in the early 1930's called the Knox Memorial Theater. It was dedicated to those who gave their life in service to the military.
While in Mt Vernon, we had a tour of the previous opera house that currently is going through with ambitious plans of renovation. Most amazing to me was a trough to be filled with kerosene lining the front of the stage in the old opera house to give light. The kerosene was lit the entire length of the front of the stage! No wonder so may opera houses burned to the ground.
We had a fabulous dinner of Indian cuisine in Mt Vernon. I love Indian food and this was particularly delicious. For a meal on the concert night we had an amazing feast. We were given a hot plate of homemade turkey dinner, complete with the dressing and mashed potatoes. We felt like we were back home. Only better because there were no dishes to do! Bill Harper is the president of the community concert organization who is highly organized. Very friendly as well.
We had a Sunday afternoon concert in Lancaster held at a branch campus of the University of Ohio. A special treat for us was the effort that was put forth to give us high quality lighting. Mike was the sound person and Dale was the lighting specialist. Bruce was the "roadie."










In attendance in Lancaster was someone who has purchased all of my CDs, Betty Greve. I think I will make her honorary president of my fan club, if I had one. It's always a joy when I meet people such as Betty.










Bob and Doug were the ones in charge of the concert association.
Of particular importance, Doug's daughter was expecting a baby at any moment. talk about Doug and Bob being committed to community concerts! Doug was to become a grandpa and Bob (Doug's father) was to become a GREAT-grandfather.





The morning we left Lancaster, we presented an assembly at St Marys. We enjoy "picking" on the music teachers at the school by making them a guinea pig to play the harp for the audience. We do this to demonstrate that the harp is similar to the piano. If one can pick out Chopsticks on the piano, it can be plucked out on the harp.









For the concerts in Ohio the newspaper gave us a bit of material by publishing the cities in the country considered to be most "manly." Ohio had 3 in the top 15. The harp is not considered "manly" but playing the Ohio State Fightsong for the manly people in the audience was a relief to their masculinity! I have made a lot of friends in Ohio and all along the way.