Activities & Events
Friday Forum
How did that happen? Igniting the Industrial Revolution
Friday Forums, taking place on the fourth Friday of every month, are Mountain Meadows' version of TED Talks, with residents presenting topics of general interest in which they have a particular interest. The Friday Forum February 28 was a presentation by Gary Anderson, who has an interest in the history of technology, discussing how four men and a women, working together in a variety of fields during the 1820s and 1830s can be given credit for igniting the Industrial Revolution
Music at the Meadows
Ashland High School Thespians performance
On Saturday, January 25, members of the Ashland High School Thespians club, directed by Fine Arts teacher Betsy Bishop, performed a selection of numbers that they have prepared for competitions at the statewide Oregon Thespian Festival, including numbers from last year's production of Urine Town, and other monologue and group musical and dramatic performances.
Meadowlarks Holiday Concert
For months, anyone wandering through the Clubhouse on several mornings a week will hear snatches of holiday music, punctuated by quiet comments, coming from the Rogue Room at the end of the hallway. Those familiar with the annual rhythm of events at Mountain Meadows know what's going on. The Meadowlarks – our community's choral group – was preparing for its Holiday concert, an event that marks a high point of the group's twice-weekly practice sessions as well as one of the highlights of the community's holiday season.
Both groups were rewarded on December 11 when the group, supplemented by several talented instrumental musicians, entertained an audience that overflowed out of the Mt. Ashland Room and into a separate gallery set up in front of the Lobby Fireplace with a remote video screen so that no one need miss a note or expression from the performance.
Works selected by director Harriet Berman included classic selections in Latin from religious traditions, standard English and American holiday songs, and culminated in a series of carols in which the audience was encouraged to participate.
Above: The Meadowlarks in concert.
Below: Harriet Berman, music director of the Meadowlarks.
Halloween Party Brings Out the Ghosts and Goblins
Our Annual Halloween Costume Party on October 31 attracted nearly 50 spooky, humorous and creative visitors from the other side to the ghostly Mt. Ashland and Rogue Rooms. There they found a wide variety of sweets and savories to share with one another, with the room decorated and beverages supplied by the Activities and Events Committee.
Three anonymous judges roamed the gathering to select the best costumes. After the unmaskings at 3 p.m. (hard to gnosh when you’re wearing a lampshade over your head Gary Anderson announced the winners to be: Funniest Costumes worn by Margaret and Robert Tower who were “Green with Envy;” Best Couple with the pairing of “Pizza and Beer for TGIF” personified by Bob and Laurie Carter; the Most Creative costume to be the politically correct “Floaty Ghost” costume made of completely recycled materials concealing the identity of Donna Stewart (above); and as Scariest, Roy Sutton in his alter ego of Count Dracula, who chased the comely female guests around the room while crooning “Come to me, my sweet embraceable you.” Thanks to Karen Clarke, Sandra King and Martha Amlin for coordinating the arrangements.
Repertory Singers Come to Mountain Meadows
The Southern Oregon Repertory Singers, directed by Paul French, is a local choral group of between 50 and 60 singers. They perform four concerts a year. Each year they form a small chamber group to sing outreach performances. Their focus is mainly on schools, exposing young people to beautiful, classical music. They also enjoy coming to Mountain Meadows and sharing their talents with us. This year, the group was smaller than usual. Eight singers, two on each section (soprano, alto, tenor, and bass) filled the Mt. Ashland Room with beautiful music. What a thrill it was to hear their beautiful voices.
Several weeks ago, they invited the Meadowlarks, our Mountain Meadows choral group, to choose a piece of music that we would like to sing with them. I chose a piece called “Evening”, based on a poem by Emily Dickinson. They had rehearsed the song, and at the end of their performance, they invited us to join them on stage. I had the privilege of conducting the group. Such a lovely experience!
A big “think you” to Lola Egan who organized the event!
Harriet Berman
Music at the Meadows
Jenna Bainbridge in performance with Rose Van Dyne
On Friday, September 20, residents were excited to welcome back to the Mt. Ashland Room Oregon Shakespeare Festival actor/singer Jenna Bainbridge, joined by singer/pianist Rose Van Dyne.
Special Event
Summer Picnic and Variety Show
Residents were taken back to the era of sock hops, cruising the strip, poodle skirts, and Elvis on Tuesday, September 17, when the community celebrated the annual summer picnic – moved on account of rain to the rapidly redecorated Dining Room – and resident variety show, themed this year as "The Fabulous '50s"
Music at the Meadows
Bossa Nova by Brianne Mack
with Ed Dunsavage
The authentic strains of Bossa Nova, sung in Portuguese and accompanied by a guitar, carried through the audience in the Mt. Ashland room Thursday, August 29, at Music in the Meadows. More than 50 members of our community were entertained with the nostalgic and sometimes melancholy sounds of this evocative art form by vocalist and flautist Brianne Mack, accompanied by guitarist Ed Dunsavage.
Friday Forum
Ashland Culture of Peace Commission
David Wick and Irene Kai, cofounders and executive director and director of development of the Ashland Culture of Peace Commission, discussed the group’s mission and activities with more than 40 residents of Mountain Meadows at the Friday Forum July 26, arranged by Lola Egan.
As Wick explained, a proclamation of the City Council of Ashland embracing and encouraging a culture of peace was approved unanimously and their Commission was formerly begun in September 2015.
