STAGE & SCREEN Local musicians impress for Music Bridges Borders fundraiser

By Rick Reed Reader Contributor

Two violin groups and five musician-singers took to the Granary stage between Matchwood and Evans Brothers on June 24 in a benefit for the Sandpoint nonprofit group Music Bridges Borders.

To start the show, the District 1A Old Time Violinists group played a solid 40 minutes of oldtime violin music and folk songs, some of which had people in the audience up and throwing some dance steps in the gravel area between the shaded picnic tables.

Next up were the young violinists from Noelle Bastow’s violin school. The children practiced for the event and it showed.

Singer and guitarist Sydney Clark then took the stage; and, with an air of grace and casual confidence, dealt with wind blowing her music off the stand and turning the incident into a light and funny part of the show.

Vocalist Sarah Kugle followed Clark with background tracks of jazz and popular cultural iconic music. She was recommended to take part in Music Bridges Borders by vocal teacher Jon Brownell from Sandpoint High School. Guitarist and vocalist Chris Paradis then covered various Bob Dylan songs.

Violinist Max Reed followed, playing favorites from Phantom of the Opera to Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir” covers and Lindsey Stirling pieces.

The audio system brought by sound engineer Brenden McCoy deserves much credit for the aforementioned musicians’ stellar performances — McCoy also gets kudos for his musical performance, closing the show with his guitar renditions of a number of classic rock and Beatles favorites.

Music Bridges borders brings top music students from the large orchestra program in northern Mexico to perform, volunteer, teach and participate with their musical peers in the Spokane Youth Symphony’s summer music camp. The students from Mexico will also give a free music instrument exploration Monday, July 17-Thursday, July 20 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. If you would like to get more information and/or sign up your child between the ages of 7 through 12, email musicbridgesborders@gmail.com.

Space is limited.

Special thanks to major community sponsors, including:

Matchwood Brewing, Evans Brothers Coffee, Believe In Me Foundation, Bonner County Human Rights Task Force, Ziply Fiber, Stacey McDermott and Family, Eichardt’s Pub and Coffee House, and Umpqua Bank.

Rick Reed is vice president, and a volunteer of the all-volunteer, nonprofit, organization

Performers during the 2023 Music Bridges Borders benefit held at the Granary: Sydney Clark (left), Sarah Kugle (top middle), Chris Paradis (right) and the Ol’ Time Fiddler’s Association (bottom middle). Photos by Rick Reed.

Music Bridges Borders, which he organized with his wife, Elinor Reed. Get more information at musicbridgesborders.

By Marcia Pilgeram Reader Columnist

July is a big month for me. While most are planning their Fourth of July festivities, I am deep in the planning stages of our annual family get-together in the mountains of Montana. It’s our 10th year gathering in the same sweet, idyllic spot just west of Helena.

We’ve grown, and we’re now a family of 16. Upon our arrival, depending on the needs of each family, we’ll spend some time reorganizing (yet again) the sleeping arrangements between the main lodge and four smaller guest cabins. Newlyweds and nursing mothers once had priority at the fanciest space, known as the “honeymoon cottage.”

There are no longer any blushing brides, and the youngest grandbabe just turned 3, so I have reclaimed this peaceful little space as my own. It’s quiet and cozy, besides the sound of a nearby creek rushing over rocks. And it’s just a short walk alongside the stream to my other favorite space: the homey, oversized kitchen in the main lodge.

I’m always the first to rise. Since I never know if my offspring stayed up to entertain one another with hilarious late-night tales (and one last round of beverages), I move around quietly, making myself a pot of coffee before I begin preparing the traditional cocoa ritual for my gaggle of grandchildren.

My son, Zane, is usually the first to join me. It’s the only one-on-one time we two seem to share all week, and I covet these moments. While I gather cocoa ingredients and accouterments, Zane brings me up to date on his current ranch projects: the price of cows and hay, the performance of his new black Charolais bulls and long-range weather forecasts. He has other talents, too, and we’ll put many of them to the test throughout the week (Zane is like a