All was in alignment on the 18th...from the weather, to the chairs (lots of them, almost all filled). But where were our musicians?

That was the question at 7:30 pm.

As we waited for the guest artists and student musicians participating in the 

High Peaks Festival's first-ever appearance at Beattie,  

only Stefan Milenkovich had arrived...

on a red motorcycle, to be precise, his precious violin strapped to his back.
While the Serbian virtuoso warmed up...

urgent phone calls were placed to the young musicians who'd been expected an
hour earlier. To say that we were worried was an understatement, especially when
we learned that brake trouble on the way down the mountain had caused the delay.

But suddenly, vans rolled up (including Mr. Ding-A-Ling, one of the rescue 

vehicles), musicians poured out, Yehuda Hanani, Director of Close Encounters with 

Music and the High Peaks Festival (below left) introduced the first musicians...

and an  evening of sublime music commenced. 

Due to circumstances well beyond the control of Friends of Beattie-Powers, 

the highly anticipated, 7-member Cello Chorus was not to be that evening 

(a bit too much brake-trouble-induced stress, perhaps? In any case, the program 

was changed) but the concert was a grand success, the bubbly 

flowed in abundance, afterwards, 

and despite its rather unnerving start, the event was a delight for all. 

Many thanks to the High Peaks Festival:Music with Altitude, to David Allen 

and David King for the wonderful photographs, and to all our guests. 

We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events!