98 year old former concert pianist treated to a concert of her own by the Hamilton Spectator and the 2007 Brott Music Festival

August 19th, 2007

Hamilton musician, Evelyn Bedford, 98 was the guest of honour at a concert given by conductor Boris Brott and members of the National Academy Orchestra Sunday night at Idlewyld Manor on Hamilton's West Mountain.

The packed concert was part of a contest sponsored by the Hamilton Spectator called The Gift of Music.

Mrs. Bedford's friend, Betty Love wrote to the Hamilton Spectator about why music was important. She wrote, "The gift of music has been her life." Bedford was a well-known Canadian pianist, who along with her late husband Reginald toured North America and taught music for decades in Hamilton.

During the concert, Brott presented Mrs. Bedford with a bouquet of flowers and praised Mrs. Bedford's "extraordinary contribution" to Canadian audiences and to music students in the Hamilton area. "I don't think the music scene in Hamilton would be quite the same without Evelyn and Reginald's dedication to their students for all those years."

Saskatoon-born Bedford wiped her eyes more than a few times during the performance and said the concert was "thrilling" to listen to.

Brott hopes to do more outreach in area long term care facilities. "There are so many in our community for whom travelling to concerts has become difficult and sometimes impossible. It is our pleasure and I believe it is our job to bring the orchestral and chamber performances to them."

The Gift of Music also awarded four winners transportation and passes to the season finale of the 20th anniversary season of Brott Music Festival, which is the Hamilton premiere of Gustav Mahler's massive Symphony No. 8 -- Symphony Of A Thousand.

The concert including excerpts from Beethoven's Fifth and Ninth Symphonies, John Williams' Olympic Fanfare and other favourites for brass ensembles including fanfares and tv themes including Hockey Night In Canada.

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