By Dottie Case
Many families have been involved with the music classes and lessons offered at the Theatre since its earliest days, but as students grow, graduate and move on, it’s always good to welcome new students into our midst. One new Soo Theatre family brings with it a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm, and are happily finding their place in the musical life of both sides of the St. Mary’s River.
The Turgeon family re-located to the area this past summer from Palm Beach, Florida. Ed Turgeon and his wife Anne are professional duo pianists, with an international presence, and are Artists-in-Residence at Algoma University. Most recently, in October, Duo Turgeon was awarded a Fulbright-Hays Grant from the U.S. State Department to perform concerts and give master classes in Chišinau, Moldova.
When asked what brought their family to our area, Anne responded, “Ed was offered an exciting opportunity to be Director of Music at Algoma University which he accepted happily because of the challenge of being charged with developing the Music Program and the added bonus of working with exceptional colleagues.” Ed and Anne were also offered faculty positions to teach piano and theory at Algoma Conservatory of Music, with plans to expand to the teaching of composition, chamber music, and piano pedagogy. Both Ed and Anne possess doctoral degrees in Piano Performance from Yale University as well as a host of other advanced degrees and honors.
When I asked Anne to describe their involvement with the Soo Theatre, she told this story:
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Funny how things happen: we were at the Walgreens on Ashmun St. at the end of August. Corinne, our eight-year-old, was wearing her “Got Cello?” shirt. A very nice lady at the cash register asked if Corinne played cello and of course, we were looking for a cello teacher, having just relocated from South Florida.
She said her son played cello and that we should try STARS. So we went straight to STARS, met a delightful receptionist (Chrissy Johnston) who said that cello teacher Kristin Beckman would be there the following Thursday. I immediately asked if we could have a trial lesson and subsequently, upon seeing the interaction between Corinne and Miss Beckman, knew that the arrangement would work very well.
As we started to come every week for cello lessons, we met a very friendly lady named Colleen, who we later discovered was the president of the STP board and also Dottie Case, Director of the Soo Theatre Youth Orchestra. Since our 12-year-old daughter plays violin, Mrs. Case asked if the girls would be interested in joining the group and actually play in the first concert in September.
We were thrilled that the girls would be able to continue playing in a youth orchestra as they had they had been members of the Youth Orchestra of the Palm Beaches in Florida, and that they could finally be in the same orchestra together. I drove the same day to the Beckman house to get the violin and cello parts for the September concert from Lisa Beckman. It was also important for us that the girls, having been born in Florida, keep a close connection with the United States.
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When asked about her experiences to date with the Soo Theatre organization, Anne replied:
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It has been a wonderful, collegial experience for all of us. I was asked by Mrs. Case to conduct two pieces for the Christmas concert and since I had studied symphonic music and conducting during my graduate studies, I relished the opportunity, not to mention the joy of having our whole family involved. Working with the students and fellow music professionals was wonderful and the concert was well-received. The girls have made new friends and have learned so much! After the performance, Ed and I had the fortune of meeting members of the STP board Tom Ewing and Lizabeth Jenkins-Dale, with her lovely daughter Cameron, and other gracious and appreciative audience members. What a fabulous, warm beginning to our new life in this winter wonderland!
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We at the theater are also appreciative of the Turgeon family and what they have and will continue to contribute to our musical growth over time. Music is a collaborative work, and it takes the cooperation of many to bring out the best that is possible. We live in a small community, and it is wonderful what can be accomplished when everyone brings their talents to a common goal of growing a truly excellent music program for the students of our area.
A version of this article was originally published in the Soo Evening News on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2013.
