Update from Kate
Appreciating Twelve Months of Music in 2019
Offering Thanks and Gratitude to Local Musicians
Please Share Widely:
In 2019, I had the honor of being President of the Board of Supervisors. As we did when I was last Board President in 2014, I was inspired to open the first Board meeting of each month with a musical performance that would showcase the incredible talent we have in Marin and create a positive context for our public policy deliberations.
The inspiration for this idea came from an impromptu appearance by virtuoso jazz saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist and composer, Richard Howell, at a contentious Housing Element hearing in September 2013. Richard opened that meeting with music and an audience sing along of an original composition, “There’s Still A Lot of Love in Marin,” dispelling discord and tension from the room.
Eager to continue the spirit of hope and optimism that Richard Howell’s performance engendered - and to repeat the tradition of twelve months of music in 2014 - I asked local Marin musicians to come forward to volunteer to play, sing and perform a piece of music at the first meeting of each month in 2019. True to form, local talent of all variety answered the call.
If you were present at our meetings, or if you tuned in by watching live webcasts, you heard musicians and vocalists of all ages and of a range of genres offer their unique gifts in an unplugged (“unamplified”) format. The goal was to encourage peaceful, collaborative and creative participation.
Here, for your enjoyment, is the month-by-month musical tour of 2019. We began with Lorin Rowan, a singer-songwriter who enjoys playing roots, rock, reggae, and funk, and finished with classical violinist Beni Shinohara. In between, we had a lot of wonderful music.
All of us who had the pleasure of enjoying these performances came away with a renewed sense of pride in Marin as a cherished musical and cultural home for inspired artistry. More importantly, we invested a few minutes each meeting listening with open hearts, perhaps the greatest gift that music can bring to the realm of public service.
May we bring this good musical mojo forward into the New Year 2020 to help light our way and guide our steps. Best wishes for a wonderful year ahead for us all.
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