Talented trio to perform at hospice benefit concert
By Lisa Amstutz
August 21, 2010
312
On August 31, three talented Wooster High School alumni will team up for A Celebration of Music and Poetry in the Wayne Center for the Arts auditorium. Throughout the evening, Karen (Bricker) Euga of Wooster, Julia Tanner of Nashville, Tenn., and Mark Hersman of Mansfield will perform piano and cello music and poetry readings. Although admission is free, all donations will benefit Hospice & Palliative Care of Greater Wayne County.
I want to raise as much money for hospice as I can, said Euga. That is the whole premise of the evening. Hospice is a very dear thing to meI watched two dear friends die in the last year. I truly believe hospice is one of the best programs out there. The concert is dedicated to the memory of Lynn Drumm of Wooster, who lost her battle with cancer a few weeks ago. Lynn was a pianistthe consummate musician. She was the pianist for the Wayne County Performing Arts Guild and a member of the MacDowell Music Club, Euga said.
This is the second time the trio has come together for a benefit concert. Last years concert benefited the Viola Startzman Free Clinic in Wooster. Last years concert was so special. Were going to try to do it on a yearly basis and get as many of our classmates involved as possible, Euga said.
The three performers graduated from Wooster High School in 1967 and all went on to build careers in the arts. Over forty years later, were all tying up and making beautiful music together, Euga said.
Euga has played piano in the Wooster area for the past 30 years as pianist for the Creston Presbyterian Church, the Unity Singers of Wayne County, Norwayne High School spring musicals and the MacDowell Music Club of Wooster. Now a part-year resident of Florida, she also plays for special events such as weddings, private parties, corporate events, dinner theatres, etc. as owner of Piano by Karen. Euga recently released her third CD, containing 14 original songs, and is working on new songs for a fourth.
Julia Tanner has been the assistant principal cellist for the Nashville Symphony Orchestra in Nashville, Tenn. for 32 years. She has taught cello and chamber music at Vanderbilt and Belmont universities. Euga noted that Tanner has performed with the Beach Boys, AC/DC and Pavarotti as well as with the American Symphony, the New York City Ballet Orchestra, the New York Lyric Opera and others.
Mark Hersman is currently president of the Ohio Poetry Association. An archaeologist and lifelong naturalist, he often performs at open mics and poetry festivals across the state, and emcees monthly coffeehouse poetry/music events. Hersmans first poetry chapbook, Unearthed, was published in 2009.
We all love what were doing. The concert will be a time of friendship, love and celebrating Lynns life. Its going to be a really fun evening, Euga said.
The concert will run from 7-9 p.m., with refreshments available. All three artists will have books and CDs available for purchase. Dress is casual. For more information, contact the Wayne Center for the Arts at 330-264-ARTS.
