Published: Friday, April 3, 2009
Not even a stroke kept violinist from Carnegie Hall
Jan Simpson is a constant advocate for the Everett Symphony
-
Dan Bates / The Herald
Jan Simpson (facing in chair) applauds Stephanie Lebens, 16, Monday, immediately following Lebans' performance on euphonium for an audience at Washington Oakes in north Everett. Simpson also performed on her violin.
-
Jan Simpson performs on her violin Monday for an audience at Washington Oakes. Simpson was promoting the Everett Symphony and the importance of music.
-
Photo courtesy of Everett Symphony
Violinist Jan Simpson (left) plays with the Everett Symphony in the late 1950s.
EVERETT -- The stroke had paralyzed Jan Simpson's left side. It looked like she would never play the violin again.
That simply wouldn't do. She started with the Everett Symphony at 16 years old. After turning 74, the prize was finally hers. She was going to play Carnegie Hall, and nothing, not even a damn stroke, was going to stop her.
She was right.
In June of 2006, Simpson played Carnegie Hall. The hairs on her arms stood on end as she realized this thrill of a lifetime.
On Monday, Simpson shared her Carnegie Hall story with a crowd of more than 50 people at the Washington Oakes retirement community. Simpson visited the center as an ambassador for Everett Symphony, spreading the word about the importance of symphonic music and the power music has to make us whole.
"Jan had that goal to play at Carnegie, and we were going to carry her there if we had to," Everett Symphony violinist Ned Carrick told the group. "But we didn't have to. She played her way there."
Carrick, Simpson and Jackson High School sophomore Stephanie Lebens, who plays the euphonium, a small tuba, all performed on Monday to help launch the Everett Symphony's new program to promote symphonic music and develop musicians and audiences of all ages.
The symphony has planned visits at other retirement communities throughout Snohomish County, presenting veteran players and young musicians alike to groups that might not necessarily be able to attend a concert.
Stephanie Lebens, 16, an Everett Youth Orchestra player, said going door-to-door helps get people jazzed about music. Her mother, Sally Lebens, concurred.
"This type of program keeps music alive," Sally Lebens said.
Monday was Simpson's first public performance since Carnegie Hall. Though the pressure was on for this 77-year-old, she knew she would fulfill her duties.
"It's my new job," Simpson joked during an interview at her Everett home before the concert. "I'm supposed to promote the symphony and well, who better than me to promote the symphony? I certainly know about the symphony."
She began playing violin at the age of 5. She eventually joined the Everett High School orchestra. At 16, she was permitted to join the Everett Symphony if she kept her grades up. She did and stayed. And stayed.
"I continued for one thing because I thought I owed my parents that," she said. "It was during the Depression, and they went out on a limb to give me lessons."
"And besides that," she continued, "it's here," and Simpson used both hands to point to her heart.
So to lose something so precious as the ability to play her violin would have been, indeed, heartbreaking.
That's what almost happened in 2005. Simpson was recovering from surgery on her arteries when she suffered a horrible headache. The doctor told her to get to the hospital if it happened again. A second horrible headache preceded her stroke.
The doctors said she was done playing violin. But Simpson knew that the symphony's date with Carnegie Hall was coming up in June of 2006. Ned Carrick, who shared a violin stand with her for more than 30 years, worked with Simpson three days a week. Together, they proved the docs wrong.
"Oh, it was unbelievable," Simpson said of playing Carnegie. "I never thought it would happen in my lifetime, but it did. I'm oh, so grateful for it."
Simpson quit the Everett Symphony in 2008 after 60 years. The stress to play was too much.
But Simpson said she can certainly play a bit of Beethoven as an ambassador, if it means promoting the Everett Symphony.
"I'm proud of the Everett Symphony and all the things they've done," Simpson said. "If this helps people understand that and maybe go and hear a concert, well, that's what it's all about."
Theresa Goffredo: 425-339-3424 goffredo@heraldnet.com
That simply wouldn't do. She started with the Everett Symphony at 16 years old. After turning 74, the prize was finally hers. She was going to play Carnegie Hall, and nothing, not even a damn stroke, was going to stop her.
She was right.
In June of 2006, Simpson played Carnegie Hall. The hairs on her arms stood on end as she realized this thrill of a lifetime.
On Monday, Simpson shared her Carnegie Hall story with a crowd of more than 50 people at the Washington Oakes retirement community. Simpson visited the center as an ambassador for Everett Symphony, spreading the word about the importance of symphonic music and the power music has to make us whole.
"Jan had that goal to play at Carnegie, and we were going to carry her there if we had to," Everett Symphony violinist Ned Carrick told the group. "But we didn't have to. She played her way there."
Carrick, Simpson and Jackson High School sophomore Stephanie Lebens, who plays the euphonium, a small tuba, all performed on Monday to help launch the Everett Symphony's new program to promote symphonic music and develop musicians and audiences of all ages.
The symphony has planned visits at other retirement communities throughout Snohomish County, presenting veteran players and young musicians alike to groups that might not necessarily be able to attend a concert.
Stephanie Lebens, 16, an Everett Youth Orchestra player, said going door-to-door helps get people jazzed about music. Her mother, Sally Lebens, concurred.
"This type of program keeps music alive," Sally Lebens said.
Monday was Simpson's first public performance since Carnegie Hall. Though the pressure was on for this 77-year-old, she knew she would fulfill her duties.
"It's my new job," Simpson joked during an interview at her Everett home before the concert. "I'm supposed to promote the symphony and well, who better than me to promote the symphony? I certainly know about the symphony."
She began playing violin at the age of 5. She eventually joined the Everett High School orchestra. At 16, she was permitted to join the Everett Symphony if she kept her grades up. She did and stayed. And stayed.
"I continued for one thing because I thought I owed my parents that," she said. "It was during the Depression, and they went out on a limb to give me lessons."
"And besides that," she continued, "it's here," and Simpson used both hands to point to her heart.
So to lose something so precious as the ability to play her violin would have been, indeed, heartbreaking.
That's what almost happened in 2005. Simpson was recovering from surgery on her arteries when she suffered a horrible headache. The doctor told her to get to the hospital if it happened again. A second horrible headache preceded her stroke.
The doctors said she was done playing violin. But Simpson knew that the symphony's date with Carnegie Hall was coming up in June of 2006. Ned Carrick, who shared a violin stand with her for more than 30 years, worked with Simpson three days a week. Together, they proved the docs wrong.
"Oh, it was unbelievable," Simpson said of playing Carnegie. "I never thought it would happen in my lifetime, but it did. I'm oh, so grateful for it."
Simpson quit the Everett Symphony in 2008 after 60 years. The stress to play was too much.
But Simpson said she can certainly play a bit of Beethoven as an ambassador, if it means promoting the Everett Symphony.
"I'm proud of the Everett Symphony and all the things they've done," Simpson said. "If this helps people understand that and maybe go and hear a concert, well, that's what it's all about."
Theresa Goffredo: 425-339-3424 goffredo@heraldnet.com
Comments
(
