In Shakespeare’s The Tempest one character says to another, “The isle is full of noises, sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.” The same could be said of our homes here at Carolina Meadows, thanks to our Music at the Meadows program.

Music at the Meadows’ performances given at our retirement community span a wide range of genres. Sixty percent of our concerts are classical while the remaining forty percent falls into the categories of pop, jazz, blues and folk. The Ciompi Quartet, the Aurora Musicalis Quartet and the Oak City Quartet (the last two comprised of members from the North Carolina Symphony), have played here.  Rhythm and Reeds Jazz, The Gregg Gelb jazz quartet, Danny Gotham (folk and blues), and The Gospel Jubilators have all proved popular here. The concert that drew the biggest audience was the one given by the Choral Society of Durham.

Anne Bodner is the current chair of the nine-member Music at the Meadows Committee, following John Gabor’s four year term. John left a list of professional and semi-professional musicians here in the Triangle area. Anne and the committee are adding to that list by networking with residents and performers and searching newspapers and performing arts websites for new performers.  Anne collaborates with counterparts at The Cedars retirement community and nearby Fearrington Village to find fresh prospects. Many times, the artists themselves inquire about chances to perform here because they like the quality of our piano and are pleased with the performance space and the size and enthusiasm of our audiences.

The Music at the Meadows Committee meets every other month to choose types of music and artists. Booking begins in January and February for a new season which begins in June. The committee has scheduled 22 different concerts for 2016/2017. Funding comes from the Residents Association, the Rachlin Fund (a bequest from a resident), and designated donations  from the Gift and Remembrance Fund.

Music at the Meadows is a gift to our entire community, especially those residents who love music but can no longer attend music performances  outside of Carolina Meadows. So think about this program when making a Gift and Remembrance Fund donation. Include “Music at the Meadows” on the memo line along with the name of the person you wish to honor. Let’s keep those “sounds and sweet airs” coming.