A TRUE STORY...
Interamerican Development Bank president Felipe Herrara, a Chilean economist, 
once visited a tiny Indian village on the high altiplano near Bolivia's Lake Titicaca where, in the late 1990s, he'd gone on a feasibility study for a proposed hydroelectric dam. Upon completing the site visit, his team realized they hadn't used their entire travel budget. Since the village lacked everything, they assembled the local chiefs and explained that they had some money left. In gratitude for hospitality and assistance, they explained that they'd like to give it to the community as a gift. "What project would you like us to fund here in the name of the Bank?"
The Indian elders excused themselves and went off to discuss this offer. In just five minutes they returned. "We know what we want to do with the money."
"Excellent. Whatever you want."
"We need new musical instruments for our band."
"Maybe," replied the Bank team spokesman, "you didn't understand. What you need are improvements like electricity. Running water. Sewers. Telephone and telegraph."
But the Indians had understood perfectly. "In our village," the eldest explained, "everyone plays a musical instrument. On Sundays after mass, we all gather for la retreta, a concert on the church patio. First we make music together. After that, we can talk about problems in our community and how to resolve them. But our instruments are old and falling apart. Without music, so will we." From Gaviotas: A Village to Reinvent the World, pp. 5-6.
ABOUT ANNA'S BAY
In a recent advice piece by syndicated columnist Amy Dickinson (May 18, 2008), she said to a writer "…whenever communities form, members are forced the face the challenge of getting along." For the majority of human history, community music has been a trusted way to answer that challenge. But for many today, especially those in rural communities, opportunities to attend or make live music are rare. The Anna's Bay Center for Music is many things, but most of all, it is a community of people who believe in the power of music to enrich and strengthen community.
Part community music school, part professional performing arts organization, our mission is music that brings people into harmony with themselves and each other. Our flagship programs make participatory live music experiences available to as many as possible in some of the South Sound area's most severely underserved regions. These include a growing roster of community ensembles and our Raised Voices sing-along series, as well as classes, workshops and lectures.
This important community music work is supported by membership in the Center, and through touring professional concert programs that complement Anna’s Bay’s community music efforts both materially and artistically. Camerata events and Festivals are professional programs that use fine cuisine as another way to hear and savor the music. Your admission (half of which is tax-deductible) includes all the food and wine served as part of the performance.
Fine cuisine may take center-stage during major portions of any Camerata event, however, the highlight is always a full concert in Anna’s Bay’s own particular style, and always features world-class professional talent. Camerata and Festival audiences are encouraged to have fun looking for the flavors, colors and textures in the music we present. As a result, our audiences always take home some fun new tools for truly savoring live performance.
Located in the historic town of Union, site of the state’s first arts colony, on the spectacular south shore of Hood Canal, Anna’s Bay is little more than two hours from Seattle and Portland, an hour from Tacoma, and 45 minutes from Olympia.
