2026 recital recap

Home2026 recital recap

A HomeHaven HomeRun!

A heartfelt thank you to the whole HomeHaven community for the huge success of yesterday afternoon’s concert!

Tom Martin gave us a lovely time listening to him talk and play -- delightful, charming,anecdotal, a musical feast, and an explanation of the circle of fifths that for at least a brief moment had us all understand that beautiful graphic on the front of the program!

A special thank you to the Concert Committee that worked so hard both before and at the event. Louis Audette provided know-how and the file from Tom’s concert of two years ago. Rob Friedman organized and energized us all perfectly. Carol Cheney was responsible for the beautiful program. Lauri Lowell and Francie Irvine and Judith Colton combined forces to serve food and wine that added an actual feast to its musical predecessor. Kathy Jennings, Linda Klein, and Kate Hay managed publicity and the sale of tickets so effectively that the number of concert-goers almost swamped the available space for the party afterwards. The Membership and Activities committees stepped up with help wherever it was needed. And additional thanks aplenty to the many of you who were among the large audience.

Not only will HomeHaven’s fundraising efforts benefit greatly from Tom’s generosity and that of all the concert-goers but the event was affordable to anyone who wanted to come -- the result of a museum-type sliding price policy. A double success! And a truly lovely event!

Tom, thank you so much!

Andrew McLaren
On behalf of the Board

Comments from a non-member guest:

As a former classical pianist, a lifelong admirer of ALL music including Chopin’s, Haydn’s, and Bach’s, I was especially moved by Tom’s performance yesterday.

Tom brought the Circle of Fifths to life in a way that was both intellectually engaging and emotionally rich. His selections from Bach, Haydn, and Chopin beautifully demonstrated how key relationships shape the mood and color of music. I particularly appreciated how naturally he guided the audience through concepts that can sometimes feel intimidating — making music theory feel less like homework and more like opening a secret door.

And then came Gershwin. Tom’s performance of Rhapsody in Blue after intermission was simply marvelous — energetic, playful, and full of personality. It was the perfect way to close the program.

Please extend my thanks and congratulations to Tom for sharing both his talent and his gift for teaching. He reminded us that music is not only something we hear, but something we feel.

. . . As a new resident, programs like this make me feel lucky to be part of this community. They remind us that aging is NOT about slowing down — it is about continuing to learn, build friendships, discover new passions, and occasionally debate whether Bach would have approved of Gershwin.

HomeHaven creates opportunities for people to stay curious, engaged, and inspired, and that is a tremendous gift to our community.

With gratitude, Walter Woods