OCTOBER 13, 2016 // 11
Continued from Pg. 10
in Handel’s case, “Water Music” was a
itting name. The group was the genesis
of the festival. At its inception, it was an
all-Baroque offering, but the Water Music
Festival’s popularity soon expanded into
other musical genres and venues — al-
ways true to its founding aims to bring
superb music into the area. And year after
year it has continued to do so.
So here it is, that time of year when
music lovers count the days until the fes-
tival’s 2016 line-up arrives and then mark
their calendars for the 2017 event. World-
class musicians take over the peninsula
from Ilwaco up to Oysterville.
Each and every year somehow the
people who put the Water Music Festival
together get it right. This coming week-
end, organizers are ready and set to go
with swinging jazz, a captivating lutist/
guitar duo and a classical pianist promis-
ing to captivate audiences.
On Friday, Oct.14 at Ilwaco’s Inn at
Harbor Village, doors open at 6:30 p.m.
for socializing and a no-host wine bar.
At 7:30 p.m., Pearl Django sets things
swinging, playing gypsy, swing or hot
club jazz made famous in Paris in the
’30s by Reinhart Django. Guitarists Neal
Andersson and Tim Lerch, bassist Rick
Leppanen, violinist Michael Gray and ac-
cordionist David Lange make their magic
with an expansive repertoire and original
compositions.
“We play and we sing, we solo, we
perform original pieces and we play the
standards. This is what we do and we’ve
been doing it for a couple of decades,”
said Gray.
Guest soloist Gail Pettis, hailed as
NW Vocalist of the Year in 2010 by the
Earshot Jazz Society, will lend and blend
what has been dubbed her deliciously
soulful sound. Pearl Django and Pettis
have performed throughout the U.S. and
internationally. Name a locale and they
have probably played there. And Pearl
Django is just about to release a CD — its
13th.
Built circa 1892, Oysterville’s historic
church has some of the best acoustics
around. At noon Saturday, Oct. 15, the
church will host the Cavatina Duo, made
up of guitarist Denis Azabagic and lutist
Eugenia Moliner. Said to astonish and de-
light by the Herald Tribune, the husband-
and-wife team perform, live and travel
the world together ad dedicated soloists
and chamber musicians.
“People want to know how we feel
sharing the stage,” said Moliner. “It
WATER MUSIC FESTIVAL
Pearl Django with Gail Pettis
6:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14
Inn at Harbour Village
120 Williams Ave. N.E., Ilwaco, Wash.
$35
Cavatina Duo
Noon Saturday, Oct. 15
Oysterville Church
33590 Territory Road, Oysterville, Wash.
$30
Tien Hsieh
6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15
Leadbetter Farms
35710 I Place, Ocean Park, Wash.
SOLD OUT
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Originally from China but born in
Taiwan, classical pianist Tien Hsieh
has appeared in recitals for festi-
vals, colleges, and cultural and art
centers across the U.S., as well as in
Germany, China, and most recently,
in Budapest, Hungary.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Gail Pettis sold her orthodontic practice in
2006 to pursue a career as a jazz vocalist
full time. “For me, emotion is the currency
of jazz,” she says.
PHOTO BY DANNY MILLER
Lilyana Doupé, an Illwaco High School mu-
sician, will open the sold-out Saturday eve-
ning concert at Leadbetter Farms.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Cavatina Duo, fea-
turing husband-and-
wife team Denis Az-
abagic on guitar, left,
and Eugenia Moliner
on lute, will perform
at noon Saturday,
Oct. 15 at the Oyster-
ville Church.
sounds like I’m exaggerating but it’s true:
As musicians we are engrossed in what
is very, very, special. There is something
very trusting. My husband is my best
friend. We have our own time but we are
very lucky to be able to work together,
sharing our passion for music.”
Combining their instruments with their
range of repertoire that breaks conven-
tion, they offer their audiences new
perspectives on making music.
It’s great news for lucky ticket holders
on Saturday evening. That’s when the
remarkable Leadbetter Farms opens its
estate gates (literally) at 6 p.m. Welcome
to magic land both inside and out. An
hour-long no-host wine and nibbles along
with background music by Illwaco High
School sophomore Lily Doupé and her
guitar will set the tone for the 7 p.m.
program. The disappointing news for the
ticketless: The Saturday evening concert
is sold out. (As advised earlier: Get next
year’s dates on your calendars.)
Saturday evening’s program brings
international classical pianist Tien Hsieh
front and center. Combining her classical
talents and a love of travel, accolades
follow her where ever and whenever she
appears. The New York Concert Review
called her performance “unusually im-
pressive” and “compelling” after a recital
at Carnegie Hall. Awards, recordings —
her latest hitting number one on Amazon
in May 2015 in classical and keyboard
categories — the list goes on. A prizewin-
ner of the Los Angeles International Liszt
Competition, Hsieh is the daughter of a
classical pianist. “I was basically playing
the piano before I was born,” she said.
Her exquisite talent, a warm and
approachable personality, and her sense
of humor mingle together delivering a
delightful and remarkable presentation. “I
love what I do,” she said.
At 32 years old, the Water Music
Festival continues to provide two days
of memorable music, mixing top artistic
variety, pleasing peninsula audiences as
well as travelers who come year after
year from near and far.
In 2013, fundraising to support music
in area schools became a part of giving
back to the community. Each year, a
portion of ticket proceeds from festival
events are donated to the local schools,
enriching the musical environment for
students. And each year, one of the festi-
val’s performers visits area schools. On
Monday, Oct. 17, Tien Hsieh will share
her talents with peninsula students in the
Water Music Festival’s artist outreach
program.
“I know, I know, I know. Each year I
say this year is extraordinary. And each
year it is!” said Diane Marshall, festival
board vice president and concert chair.
Tickets remain for the irst two con-
certs Oct. 14 and 15. For more informa-
tion, maps of the venues and to order
tickets, visit watermusicfestival.com