Garth Newel Piano Quartet visits Millboro Elementary School

Every once in a while a unique collaboration happens resulting in a special,  one of a kind experience for everyone involved and spreading goodness even further than the event itself.  The Millboro Ruritans  Club and Garth Newel Piano Quartet bring just that to all comers on Sunday afternoon, February 24th at 3:00.  I spoke with Millboro Ruritan Club member Eddy Hicklin a little about who the Ruritans are, and more about when world class musicians play in the local elementary school.

“The Puritan Club is a civic organization.  It serves the citizens of the county.  We have several different events throughout the year, cook chicken and Mother’s Day dinners, Hunter’s suppers.  We provide scholarships to some students at the high school and give out different awards and things.  We’re just here to support the community.”

I asked Eddy how the addition of some of the very finest chamber music came into the Ruritans offerings.

“The concert on Sunday is something we decided to do last year I guess just to get rid of the mid-winter blues.  I did some work at Garth Newel, and talked to Shawn Puller about getting the Piano Quartet over here in the mid winter, mid February, and they will play a show on Sunday at 3:00.  It’s about a forty-five minute hour long show, and there’ll be refreshments and drinks afterwards.  We are accepting food donations for the Food Pantry, Monetary donations; so bring canned goods, anything you would like to.  We support the food pantries at Ashwood Untied Methodist Church, and Windy Cove Food Pantry.”

Can you tell us a little bit about how that went last year?

“It went very well.  For a first time thing, we were really surprised. We ended up with several boxes of food, and roughly $250 to $300 dollars in donations.  At first we were going to just donate to Windy Cove, but since we got so much we just decided to split it with Ashwood.  It worked out really well.”

And what about some of the people who might be hearing the Garth Newel Piano Quartet for the first time?  How about some of these kids?  What did they think?

“Well, it’s music that you don’t here around here very often, unless you go to Garth Newel. SO it’s really surprising to hear that kind of music, but live, it’s totally different. I mean it’s one thin g to listen to this music on record, or CD or tape or whatever you want to call it, but to hear it live, it really stands out.  It’s really impressive. “

And just to watch the musicians actually produce it from their instruments is pretty incredible.

Those musicians are: on violin, Teresa Ling, on viola, Evelyn Grau.  Issac Melamed plays the cello, and Jeanette Fang the piano.  Each of these musicians’ accomplishments and histories of performance are too lengthy to fit in here, for one Sunday afternoon in Millboro their audience is sure to be uplifted and transported.

“Come and bring guests.  We want as many people as we can.  Like I said, there’s refreshments and drinks afterwards. Time to talk with us in the community.  We are always looking for new members in the Ruritan Club obviously; we need some young blood.  Come out and enjoy yourselves; enjoy some good music and refreshments.”

Millboro Elementary School is located on Church Street, and is easy to find just past the Ruritans clubhouse and the ball field.  There are signs directing drivers to Millboro from Route 39 just East of Millboro Springs.