OF KINGS, CARROTS AND KIDS
Dear Friends,
It’s been a busy time in the music world!
First up, King Charles (a former cellist!) hosted a reception at Windsor Castle celebrating community music organizations across the UK. How cool is that? Could we get Edith Dumont (Lieutenant Governor of Ontario) to host a similar reception for Ontarians? Or maybe Mary Simon (Governor General) can host one in our nation’s capital? One can dream…
What was extra special about the Monarch’s reception was that it involved live performances by many organizations, including the London Vegetable Orchestra. The members of the group even brought a specially carved carrot for the King to join in on when the orchestra played twinkle twinkle on fresh produce. Think I’m kidding? Here’s a link with the full story:
Next, a Stradivarius violin named the “Baron Knoop” has sold for $23 million USD. That makes the instrument the most expensive Stradivari ever sold in history. When the previous owner purchased it in 1993, it sold for $2.75 million. Considering everything happening in the stock market these days, maybe now is a good time to remind investors that fine instruments are a good idea for their portfolio! Here’s the story:
When I wrote last week about the dog owner shielding her pet’s ears from loud fire truck sirens, it really struck a chord with some of you. One person wrote to say “we take our hearing for granted, but can you imagine life without it”? No, I can’t. And then yesterday one of my favourite podcasts (Freakonomics Radio) began with a story about children who gain hearing from cochlear implants, experiencing their world - including hearing the voices of loved ones - for the first time. The technology has been around for a while now, and continues to get more and more impressive. Here’s a short, touching video of a teenager hearing her mother’s voice with clarity for the first time:
And finally for today I’ll leave you with some music. This is a video of Stratford Summer Music alumni artist Stephen Prutsman performing the classic tune by the progressive rock band YES called Soundchaser. If you know the original, not only will this blow your mind that Prutsman can do what he does here, but it will also have you hearing it like its the first time.
Enjoy!
Have a great weekend everyone!
Mark and the Stratford Summer Music Team
Supporter Highlight
Grace the Boutique
Community Supporter
Stratford Summer Music would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Grace the Boutique for their generous sponsorship and continued support. Your commitment to the arts and our community plays a meaningful role in helping us bring music to life throughout the summer.
Grace the Boutique is a women’s clothing boutique in beautiful Stratford, Ontario that strives to deliver top trends and perfect basics that complete your wardrobe. They start from the base layer and work their way out—offering the best of the best in intimates, layering pieces, clothing, outerwear, sleepwear, and loungewear. Plus, they’ve got everything you need to top off your outfit: jewelry, hats, scarves, and handbags.
Thank you for being a part of the Stratford Summer Music family — your support helps us make unforgettable experiences possible.
