Kimberton Regional Lyre Workshop

Regional Lyre Gathering in Kimberton

After the service on Sunday, September 3rd, at the Devon Christian Community, Veronika Roemer and Margo Ketchum (from PA), Sally Willig and Saeko Cohn (from Spring Valley, NY), and Rika Yamashita (from Japan) presented a sharing of lyre music and songs that followed a day-long workshop led by Veronika.

Selections included: Theme Song from the Japanese film "Spirited Away", pieces by Channa Seidenberg, Thomas Pedroli, Christof-Andreas Lindenberg, and more.

Several of our participants have shared their reflections….

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We had such a full and rich two days in Kimberton, PA!  The regional gathering was a stretch beyond what I thought possible. On Saturday, we had a full day of rehearsal under Veronika Roemer’s expert leadership and Margo’s generous hospitality.  Then, on Sunday, we  played for the Christian Community service and later shared other music we had worked on the previous day.  Afterwards, the members of the Devon Congregation shared their heartfelt appreciation. It was another wonderful opportunity for challenging ourselves as lyrists and ensemble players.

–Sally Willig, Montvale, NJ

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Dear Margo, Joel, and Veronika – Playing the lyre is always special anytime, anywhere, but the more I think about it I cannot believe how truly special and wonderful the time we spent together was in those whirlwind 30 hours in Kimberton/Devon! The music keeps playing in my head… And the audience at the church was so wonderful. Everyone I had wanted to see/visit again in your area was there, among them Herta, Karen, Gillian, and of course Christof-Andreas. We were so busy playing lyre! Leon also had a memorable, beautiful time in his last few days of age 8. –Love, Saeko

Dear Joel – I had fun in Kimberton! Fun doing gardening … and cooking with you. Thank you, Leon

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Dear Friends in Kimberton – Thank you very much for bringing such a wonderful time in Kimberton. I have huge memories with the friends I met there. On the first day I was included in a beautiful family dinner; it was so special welcoming feeling. I stayed very comfortable during my stay, as one of a family. Rachel Rhodes brought me on a tour around the the Kimberton Hills Camphill Community. And Margo arranged for me to have a tea time with C.A. Lindenberg.

What impressed me the most was the end-of-summer workshop with Veronika. Veronika, Margo, Sally, Saeko – thank you for playing together! It was an unforgettable workshop; I studied a lot of things to play lyre with wonderful lyre friends. Joel and Leon cooked us a lunch and dinner, and on Saturday we could have a lyre time more than twelve hours! 

Sunday started with watching a hot air balloon that landed suddenly in Joel and Margo’s backyard! The morning of the concert I had a very deep experience of music for service in The Christian Community. After the service, the priest Jong Won, celebrated birthdays in one circle, we had a potluck lunch together, and for the concert, we made the best of what we could play! The audience gave us a lot of words of joy. I’m thankful for this opportunity. 

I had huge love and joy from you, and I thank you again for everything,

Rika Yamashita, LANA member from Japan