The Sapphire Trio filled the SSHS new auditorium with their repertoire that offered something for everyone. Pictured: Margaret Nichols-Baldridge on violin, Jody Graves on piano and Maxine Ramey on clarinet.
Sera Benton dancing to one of the energetic tangos. Ramey commented that when they play the tangos in different parts of the world, the entire audience gets up to dance. "It's fun to see someone enjoying the music and dancing so well," said Ramey.
SEELEY LAKE – The 2 Valleys Stage (2VS) hosted The Sapphire Trio April 23 on the Seeley-Swan High School's (SSHS) new stage. The Sapphire Trio closed out the 2016-2017 Concert Series.
The Trio has played all over the world. They performed standard and newly written compositions for piano, violin and clarinet. They premiered their new arrangement by Montana composer Dennis Alexander entitled "Introduction and Tango."
Clarinetist Maxine Ramey commented how wonderful the acoustics are in the new stage,
"We've played in the good, the bad and the ugly. This is the good," she said.
2VS board member Bob Green was also pleased with the acoustics on the new stage. He felt the sound panels mounted on the walls of the gymnasium were a great addition to absorb the sound.
"We still have the acoustic shell that we could use but with this example I don't think we are going to need it," said Green.
Concert attendee retired physical scientist Adrian Vanderwielen noted the angled walls and ceiling provide for a much better mix than what they had in the past. He also noted that the reflectivity of the materials used helps bounce or dampen the sound.
"If you take care of the basic physics of how the sound waves hit the angled walls, you get good acoustics. With the walls and the ceiling slightly angled it takes care of its self," said Vanderwielen who was pleased with how well the trio sounded.
Following the performance, Citizens Alliance Bank hosted a dinner reception for the performers and attendees. Nearly 50 people attended the potluck-style meal with beverages provided by the bank.
The reception offered the performers and attendees the opportunity to visit. The trio members regaled their table guests with stories about the strange things that happened during their travels. Stories included finding pianos with keys missing; finding keyboards instead of pianos; finding pianos with keys filled with sand; tuning for altitude changes; being serenaded by the Bahrain Police Department in full regalia while they played Yankee Doodle.
The line-up for the 2017-2018 2VS Concert Series will be released soon. For more information visit http://www.alpineartisans.org/2valleysstage/
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