Listening to a live musical performance has always been a way to bring communities together. The Valley Concert Society has our own tight-knit community of music lovers that gather each month to enjoy classical music – something we all have in common. At a time when the world is a tumultuous and uncertain place, music helps us come together and feel connected.
The day before Jarred Dunn’s performance last Friday, we came together as a nation to cheer on Team Canada in the 4 Nations hockey tournament, not only in the name of a shared pastime we hold dear, but in the name of shared values and principles that we believe in. It’s a great reminder that these live events help to strengthen our communities and bring out the best in us.
Music, like sport, brings together a community in the same way. There’s something profoundly intimate about listening to a live musical performance. Although many of us are strangers to each other, we are all there for the same reason. Despite differences we may have, music appeals to those universal qualities of humanity - it perhaps makes us a little more understanding, a little more compassionate. The very act of listening to a classical concert requires us to sit still and quietly listen.
During the performance it was obvious that Jarred is a musician who is extremely dedicated to his craft. His enthusiasm was evident as he captured our attention with his impeccable technique and passionate interpretation of the pieces. He had an unassuming and humble air about him as he took the stage, which belied the depth and skill he exhibited. He was here to share his gift of music with our community, and we welcomed him with open arms. Jarred urged us to listen carefully for particular chords or moments of significance in the pieces. The audience listened with rapt attention to the beauty of the Polish composer Karol Szymanoski’s preludes, the soul stirring chords of Chopin, the joyful strains of Schubert and the sparkling climax of Schumann’s Piano Sonata.
Although there was silence in the auditorium during Jarred’s performance, the cheers when his fingers left the keys for the final time were just as loud as any hockey game. At times like this we desperately need music to help us remember what makes us human - what makes us good people. If we can access our humanity through music, it makes our community stronger and by extension our country and the world. Music is then not just a luxury, but a necessity.