“If you want a thing done. . .”
The Any Music Singers under the stage lights in the just-renovated third floor opera house at Pickens Hall in Heuvelton, NY. Photo: Dale Hobson
Last night I made my first visit to Pickens Hall in Heuvelton since before the ten-year renovation project, now completed, began. The occasion was a concert by TAMS, The Any Music Singers, a Canton-based chorus directed by composer Paul Siskind, performing a program of music composed and/or arranged by members of the group or by other North Country composers, songwriters and poets.
And yes, it featured a number of NCPR folks: Todd Moe singing with the basses, Connie Meng at the piano, arranging and singing with the tenors, and Barb Heller performing her own songs, with and without choir, and also performing a piece where I wrote the lyrics and she wrote the music.
Even though it was a fantastic show, that’s not what I want to talk about. I want to talk about the accomplishments of volunteers. Start with TAMS—all busy people giving of their time and talents gratis for a shared passion for music. And the composers, writers and arrangers? Not a paycheck in sight.
Heuvelton Historical Society members John Danis and Dave Kingsley chat on the unrestored third floor of Pickens Hall last year. Photo: Todd Moe
Then there’s Pickens Hall itself, a massive restoration project driven by singular vision with dogged persistence over a decade. Yes, there were grants and gifts involved, but sweat equity is in every stone and board. It isn’t like the giant Opera House Cartel decided there was better profit to be had in outsourcing production to the North Country. A community of members and volunteers revived the hall and maintains the building and its programs.
I see this everywhere in the North Country, small passionate groups of busy people accomplishing incredible things for love of the work. I am reminded of a broadside published by the Roycrofters, that seminal arts and crafts collective of the turn of the last century in Western New York. It reads:
“If you want a thing done, find a busy man. The other kind has no time.”
More gets done for love, I think, than ever was for money.
Tags: listeningpost
You are very correct about volunteerism in the North Country. TAMS and Pickens Hall are fine examples of such volunteers.
The performance last evening in a beautifully restored venue was very enjoyable. We will go back for more performances in the future. Dale, you and Barb make a good team!
We agree… it was a night to celebrate North Country folks who work together to make living in the North Country the place we all love. I am reminded of another quote by Margaret Mead: “Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world… indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” Thanks, to all who brought Pickens Hall back to life and to Paul Siskind and The Any Music Singers for your passion and gifts to the North Country!