A Day at Princeton Peak Piano Retreat

July 21 ~ 25, 2008

Opening the recital was Caleb Wenzel who wowed the crowd with a brilliant interpretation of Bach's Prelude and Fugue in B flat Major. Caleb from Fort Worth, Texas, has successfully completed his freshmen year at St John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota, where he is pursuing a double major in music performance and composition. An accomplished pianist and organist who has played in several churches and recital halls, he has had his music performed by high school choirs around the metroplex and churches around the country. His music was featured on the National Catholic Youth Choirs 2007 Tour of the Midwest. He has received commissions from the Arlington Music Teachers' Association, the College of St Benedict Campus Singers, and Carolyn Finley (Houston Opera). He teaches composition with Bonnie Dove in Arlington, Texas, and many of their students have won in state competitions.

In a totally different mood, Bonnie Dove played with wonderful delicacy the famous “Traumerei” (Reverie) by Schumann. Ms. Dove from Arlington, Texas, has been a piano teacher for the last forty years and is most proud of her many past and current students, many of whom are also piano teachers, whilst others are pursuing advanced music studies at places such as the New England Conservatory, Hunter College in Manhattan, and the University of Miami.

Taking the audience by surprise and delight, Ms. Dove and Caleb Wenzel performed with gusto and enthusiasm, three Slovakian Dances for Piano Four Hands by Dvorak.

One of the favored musicians at this fourth musical retreat was Chopin. Aaron Holsteen threw the gauntlet with a fiery performance of the famous Fantaisie-Impromptu. Aaron from Aurora, recently graduated from Grandview High School where he played Beethoven's Concerto #4 with the high school band. He will attend Northwestern University where he plans to study pre-medial science and music. Following Chopin's Fantaisie, Aaron played Sonata in A major by Schubert with verve and playfulness.

Debussy's Arabesque No.1 again changed the mood of the evening, dreamily interpreted by Pieter Orlandini from Centennial, who will start his senior year at Arapaho High School where he is the accompanist for the high school choir. Pieter showed his wonderful versatility in the Three Bagatellen by Sibelius, passing from a Waltz, a Lied to a Humorous March, all played with fun and dexterity.

With Chopin's Posthumous Nocturne in C Minor, Taylor Andrews took the audience to another land of appealingly delicate tones. Then, in total contrast, he threw himself in the Revolutionary Etude with superb speed and passion. Taylor, also from Aurora and a graduate of Grandview High School where he recently performed Schumann's Piano Concerto in A minor, will start his freshman year at Metro State University to double major in psychology and music.

The first part of the recital ended with Katy Hoyer from Castle Rock, a high school junior, who played in two different veins, first Chopin's Waltz in B Minor in a sweet approach, followed by the Six Romanian Folk Dances by Bartok in a much more modern, at times, abrupt sound that perfectly befitted the music.

Opening the second part of the recital was Marie-Paule Truitt, who after a hiatus of more than thirty-five years, has resumed studying the piano as an amateur, first with Annette Covatta, and since January 2006, with Jo Boatright. She soulfully played two pieces by Chopin: Nocturne in F minor and the famous “Tristesse” Etude No.3, creating “beautiful tones”, according to Jo Boatright.

Cathy Motter from Centennial introduced Debussy's “La Plus que Lente”, a “more than slow” waltz as a dance of an older couple who cherish many love memories and who are dancing together for the last time. Her outstanding interpretation lovingly reflected that image. Ms. Motter received her Bachelor of Music from UTA where she studies with Jo Boatright, and her Master's degree in piano performance from DU. She has a private teaching studio in her home, and is on the music faculty of Colorado Christian University in Lakewood. Aaron, Taylor, Pieter and Katy are four of her students. Again softly yet strongly, she performed Chopin's Berceuse (lullaby), taking the audience to another world.

To end the piano recital there were two last surprises, Caleb's interpretations of two of his compositions which drew the crowd to its feet, and Mozart's Sonata in D Major for Two Pianos interpreted with the beloved lightness of the composer by Ms. Motter and Pieter Orlandini.

Thanks to master pianist and teacher Jo Boatright, Tai Chi and Alexander techniques teacher Harvey Boatright, the local families who hosted the students and offered their piano for practice, the Walden Chamber Music Board members and all those who attended the Friday recital, the fourth Princeton Peak Piano Retreat was another great success. As Mary Alice Zoeter, one of the observers of the retreat, “special people, special music, special moments with magical passion, laughters, challenges, fingers on fire, and hearts overflowing”, all for that special musical moment shared by the audience on a summer evening in Chaffee County. Until next year!

Painting by Coddington

The Retreat will encompass a whole body approach to the study of piano. Each day can begin with an easy hike or a Tai Chi class with the surrounding mountains and the sound of the Arkansas River adding to the relaxing spirit of the morning.

Piano Master Classes will start at 9:45 a.m. each morning. Monday, at 8:30 a.m., a introductory class in Alexander Technique will be offered. The Alexander Technique is a method of drawing awareness to one’s body movement such that control is relaxed and deliberate. For musicians, the technique can identify and assist with body and movement issues that interfere with fluid performance, or even be causing pain.

Daily master classes will be with Jo. A maximum of 12 performers will each have a 50-minute master class lesson. All master class participants will benefit from the twelve hours of teaching, sure to include gems for better playing from Jo’s career and her intimate knowledge of the technique of the late Lili Kraus.

Afternoons may be spent practicing or taking private lessons with Jo and Harvey. Practice instruments will be available in the homes of Buena Vista residents.

The Retreat will culminate in a recital given by the Master Class Participants for each other and the local music lovers of Buena Vista. Following the recital will be a reception and farewell party.

There are three ways to participate in the PPPR:

1. Performers may attend each master class, perform in one master class and play in the recital
2. Auditors will observe each of the master classes and attend the recital
3. An Observer may attend just one or a number of the Master Classes

Jo Boatright, co-founded Voices of Change, the professional modern music ensemble of the Southwest United States, and maintains her position as Artistic Director Emeritus. Jo also cofounded the Walden Chamber Music Society in 1981. She continues as pianist and artistic director in the Walden Chamber Music Society in Colorado. She has been a soloist with symphony orchestras since the age of twelve, including an appearance with the Boston Pops and in many of the major music halls of Europe and the U.S.

Ms. Boatright, former Associate Professor at Texas Christian University, has served on the music faculties of the University of Texas at Arlington and Dallas, Southern Methodist University and summer music festivals at Colorado College. She studied with the great Hungarian pianist, Lili Kraus, for fifteen years and assisted her with Master Classes and private teaching from 1974-1983.

Harvey Boatright, professional flutist and teacher for over forty years, has made a study of body-movement related skills as they apply to musicians. Some of these movement studies come from far eastern martial arts, such as Tai Chi Chuan, and provide valuable balance and coordination help for instrumentalists. He also teaches Alexander Technique, which promotes freedom from habitual tensions associated with performance stress and pain that arise from learned misuse of the psychophysical self. As a complement to these arts, Harvey is skilled at foot reflexology and energy work.

The Princeton Peak Piano Retreat will feature renowned concert pianist Jo Boatright, aka the "Lioness of the Keyboard," teaching master classes and private lessons against the incomparable backdrop of a Colorado summer in the mountains. Participants will benefit from a master class and private lessons with Jo, culminating in a recital given by the participants for the Buena Vista music community. The Retreat will also feature a master class in Alexander Technique taught by Harvey Boatright. Harvey also will offer classes in Tai Chi for interested guests.

The Retreat will be hosted in the Boatright's beautiful dream home in Buena Vista, Colorado, located in the Sangre de Cristo range of the Rocky Mountains. The master classes and recital will take place on the specially-built stage in their living room with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Arkansas River .

The town of Buena Vista evokes the days of gold and silver mining, saloons and the Wild West. Many outdoor activities are available in Buena Vista and vicinity, which can be enjoyed by participants, observers and their family members: rafting/kayaking down Brown's canyon, hiking, mountain biking, fishing, four-wheeling and visiting neighboring ghost towns. Nearby Salida, Colorado (24.5 miles) offers shopping, museums, and art galleries featuring local artists. And, just 2 hours away, the Aspen Music Festival features world class musicians appearing with the Aspen Concert Orchestra.

Jo is a seasoned mountain climber and has offered to take guests along on her mountain walks each morning of the Piano Retreat. Buena Vista's high season is the summer; therefore, please consider making your reservations early. See www.fourteenernet.com for information on lodging.

Previous participants have included professional and amateur pianists, teachers and advanced high school students.

The Princeton Peak Piano Retreat Master's Class is opened to auditors and observers. Cost for auditors is $115 for the 5-day retreat or $70 for 3-day attendance. Observers are welcome to attend any morning sessions. Cost is $20.00 per session.

The Princeton Peak Piano Retreat closes with a recital of pure musical delight on Friday, July 25 at 7 :00pm. Each retreat participant performs what he/she has worked upon under Jo Boatright's direction. The program varies with each pianist, from Couperin to Fauré, Chopin to Brahms, Mozart to Rachmaninoff, Bartok to Scriabin, Beethoven to Gerschwin, Finzi to Schumann and many other great composers. The enthusiasm of each pianist adds to the atmosphere of celebration.

Reservations are required to attend any of the Princeton Peak Piano Retreat sessions and the recital held at Jo and Harvey Boatright's beautiful residence by the Arkansas River. Donations for the Walden Chamber Music Society will be gratiously accepted at the recital.

If interested in observing, auditing, and/or attending the recital, please contact Jo Boatright at (719) 395-0594 or email PianoBoat@aol.com

2007 Participants

Front row: Cathy Motter, Marie-Paule Truitt, Jo Boatright, Morton Cahn, and Harvey Boatright
Back row: Caleb Wenzel, Taylor Andrews, Laura Onsgard, Bonnie Dove and Keith Williamson.
Missing from the photo is Suzanne Weichselbaum.