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Review of Music in the Mountains
November 3-6, 2022
By Janice Gelencser
This year’s Music in the Mountains at deBenniville Pines was a big success. Though the attendance was smaller than usual, there was a coziness to being together in the crisp autumn air. Snow had fallen the day before a
nd remained on the ground for the weekend which added to the beauty of the camp and its surroundings. There were plenty of opportunities for impromptu jamming, relaxing by the large hearth in the lodge and catching up with old friends while meeting new ones. The food was delicious and the cabins were warm and comfortable.
Our headliner, Larry Wilder, opened for both the Friday and Saturday evening concerts. His vibrant and friendly personality is contagious which made the attendees happy they came. Larry also gave two workshops which were well received. His songs and stories session, told of how Americana music tied into events in our history. His yodeling workshop gave the attendees some basics of how to yodel.
left: Headliner Larry Wilder on guitar
A big thank you is in order to the Songmaker workshop leaders who volunteered their time and talents to make this another memorable weekend. Louise Dobbs led an all purpose sing-along and provided songbooks for the singers. Carol Burton gave us interesting stories about Leonard Cohen and his son
gs. Bob DeVillle (pictured at left) led a workshop about Bob Dylan and his music. Joan Greenwald, although not a Songmaker, is a regular attendee at MITM who led a basic sight reading workshop. Oram Miller, another regular attendee at MITM, led a choral workshop (pictured at right) and performed the song at the evening concert.
There were two evening concerts. Friday’s concert featured the workshop leaders and committee members with the Julia Collins as our emcee. Saturday’s concert featured the attendees with Ron Bloom taking the role as emcee. The Songmaker’s sound system was used for both concerts. Thank you to Andy Gelencser for housing our sound system and transporting the equipment to deBenniville.
Above l-r: Janice Gelenscer, Ron Bloom and Carol Schryver and Karl Lisovsky
Sunday morning brought two simultaneous “Songs of Meanings” sessions which allowed time for attendees to have more than one turn to share their songs.
Committee members who planned this year’s Music in the Mountains are Janice Gelencser, Doug Kerr, Linda Szitkar, Mary Hendricks, Bob DeVille, Carol Burton, Julia Collins and Steve Berman, our Songmakers President.
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Stagecoach Inn
There is a Songcircle held on the 4th Saturday of Each Month. Check the calendar for further details.
March 2022 Songcircle in the Heritage Oak Grove
Kenney Grove June 2022
Our campouts at Kenney Grove in Fillmore have been well attended this year. In addition to the overnight Songmaker campers, many members “day trip” just for the day on Saturdays.
It isn’t always about playing music and staying in the campground. Many members went to Santa Paula for an evening car show and to hear Greg Lannar’s band perform. A few members bring their bikes along and there is a great store with antiques and old-time items to visit in Fillmore.
Janice Gelencser biked to the nearby tennis courts to hit balls.
A sampling of items at the local downtown Fillmore antique store
Greg Lannar’s band performed downtown at the car show in Santa Paula.
Photos from Kenney Grove Campout, Oct 2022
Topanga Banjo and Fiddle Festival 2022
Photos by Chuck Behrman
Article by Louise Dobbs
The 2022 60th Topanga Festival by Louise Dobbs
Songmakers 2022 Roundup
This was held via zoom on February 26, 2022.
Some of our board members performed Sing With Me, by John Zipperer at the event. Songmakers appearing in the video are Doug Kerr, Linda Szitkar, Janice Galencser, Louise Dobbs, Sally Charette, Dana Charette, Steve Berman and Sandy Lessner. Thanks go to Doug Kerr for producing this video.