Meet Denise Kearney ~ she has volunteered with the arts council for years, and this past summer organized all the music at Spirit Square for the First Friday Markets. Here's what she has to say about why she volunteers for the Arts Council:
“Can music soothe your mortal soul?”
In my life, it not only soothes, but inspires, exhilarates and rocks me. I hope you have felt that “frisson,” which is the shivers, the thrill when you experience a favourite piece of music, or the poetry in a song that speaks to you. I love that feeling. It ignites intense emotions, be it joy, sorrow, love, loss. Yes, shivers.
I fell in love with music as a child, or it fell into me. I can't remember life without music, which was ever present in my home. My father playing guitar as I danced on his guitar case, clicking castanets. My mother leading songs wherever we were. Singing my heart out along with tunes on my record player, falling into the intricacies of Led Zeppelin guitar riffs and harmonies and poetry of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. And there were so many, many more. I lived in a house where any one of us, including my much younger sister, could break out into song upon hearing a few words from song lyrics. Ask our spouses. They'll confirm.
I was born in Darlaston, England, then immigrated to Toronto, Ontario at the age of three where we lived for many years. Yes, there was plenty of music involved - choir, band, folk groups, and as I grew older, attending copious numbers of concerts.
It was the era of Peace and Love after all. All you need is love.
I moved to BC and although priorities changed to raising my perfect son and earning a living, music always played in the background. My son and his wife now have their own son. Of course, he's the cleverest, most charming and beautiful grandson on Earth.
But wait! There's more music. Just when you think the show is over. I met my now husband, Al. On our first date he, serenaded me with his glorious voice, accompanying himself on guitar and harmonica. I was smitten. My fate was sealed. The music didn't die.
We've known each other for 45 years, roamed our way through thousands of kilometers of adventures, walks, hikes, fishing and music. Travelling of course with several guitars, harmonicas....and cats! "Oh, the stories we could tell."
You might be surprised to hear that I have many other interests in this life, or that two of my heroes are Professor Brian Cox and David Attenborough, but that's for another discussion.
This one's about volunteering and why.
I want to share my love of music.
I want to do some good.
Hopefully some delightful shivers will happen.
Denise