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Show Lakeside Review. Wednesday, October 28, 1987 Blind pianist brings ight with his music FARMINGTON Even though Mark Seamons life is dark, he has brought light to countless other people through his music. One month after the talented pianist was bom, his mother noticed a cloudiness in his eyes. Upon taking him to physicians, she learned it was cancer of the retina. When he was little more than a baby, his eyes were removed. I was his baby sitter. When he was 9 months old he would go to the piano and turn his little head to the side and pick out tunes on the keys. He was given a special gift, said Ann Glauser of Farmington. At 2, he crawled on the piano stool and picked out the tune chopsticks after hearing his older sister play it. That is still the way he learns music today. Now an accomplished musician, Mark will listen to a tune on the tape recorder and then play the music. Reading braille music is so difficult. It is done 006 hand at a time for a few measures. It is easier to listen to the tape and then play the music, he said. Mark has mastered the keyboard. His fingers float over the keys, producing music by the hour. He has performed with artists such as The Association, George Shearing, Billy Preston, Robert Peterson, the Three D's, the Let-term- Jim Nabors, and Tim Conway. He is currently playing at Little America. I always wanted music in my home. I played a little but I wanted it for my children, said Melva Seamons, Marks wife. The children know that it is important for him to work so they seldom bother him. He will take them one at a time on to the piano and help them learn about music. It is a special moment for them. They are the parents of two boys and a girl. Their daughter also has cancer in her eyes and has had one removed. In the evening Melva drives Mark to Little America where he performs dinner music. It was difficult at first when we were married. I had been free to do what ever I wanted. This is really a commitment. Mark is here all day when other men go to work but he is really a help to me. He will do the laundry when he is done practicing and brings it upstairs. Besides being a master of the keyboard, Mark is a singer and a composer of more than one hundred songs. I Stand All Amazed and Count Your Many Blessings are titles of two cassettes containing LDS hymns arranged and performed by him. He also composed and accompanied Bob Morphis on the album, Harvest. Merridith Wilson described him as a talent that comes along once in a generation. Other famous personalities have also talked about this master entertainer. But Mark has remained unimpressed by all the talk. He is a quiet man who has a deep Mark Seamons and his family conviction of who he is. I hope that I can do a little good and help other people, he said. He loves to play popular, music and jazz. I learned from a teacher that helped me listen and play what I heard. The classics are most difficult for me be share a relaxing moment at home. cause I cant see the notes I can sitions. only interpret how another person has played them. Mark will play at the Utah Composers Guild concert at Viewmont High School on Wednesday, Nov. 4 at 7:30 p.m. He will play his own compo Viewmont High School is lo- cated at 120 W. 1000 N. in Bountiful. A suggested donation at the door is $5 a person or $18 per family. For group rates and advance discount sales tact Ruth Gatrell at 451-227- con- 5. Ruth Gatrell Singers to perform with pianist rV. v. j - ,$& ; ij FARMINGTON By popu, lar demand Ruth Gatrell organized a womens chorus two groups have sung her compositions in churches and public years ago. They mostly sing what I write but we have other numbers as well. Mrs. Gatrell, a Farmington resident, is president of the Utah Composers Guild, an organization to help composers get their music per- meetings. have gathered women together to sing for every type of function. Now we meet on a regular basis, said the talented I woman. The Ruth Gatrell Singers will perform with pianist Mark Seamons in an upcoming presentation in south Davis. Mrs. Gatrell has been part of the music scene for many years in the Davis County area. The Ruth Gatrell She won the childrens music division at the Jackson Hole Music Contest and has placed within the vocal solo and popular divisions. We want to encourage others who are interested in writing music to join the Composers Guild. We give them instruction and help with their compositions. formed. n She is a composer. She has won the Relief Sociwell-know- In the last few years we have had workshops in computer music, hymn arranging and Christmas music, she said. contest twice ety and placed in the finals several more times. song-writi- Play tells tale of 5 during Depression blin said. Narrator for the play is Marjorie Hilton, an actress from the community and past president of the Advisory Board for Utah Musical Theatre. Mauria Brough will play the factorole of Della, a ry worker. She appeared this summer in UMT productions of Hello Dolly and the Pirates of Penzance. She was choreographer for each of the productions. Holly Fowers plays Hattie who has experienced the Chicago Worlds Fair. She is a graduate from Bonneville High CALLAHAN JO-AN- Lakeside Review correspondent These five women OGDEN are not just surviving, but living through the Depression, says Rick Hamblin, of the women portrayed in an upcoming college play. Hamblin is the director of Eden Creek, a play to be performed at the Monson Theatre 1 on the Weber State Oct. College campus. Eden Creek is an original script written by Dwight E. Watson. It is a collection of monologues telling the story of five women from a small town in the Ohio Valley during the 1930s. But the play is anything but depressing, said Hamblin. 26-3- Hamblin is a theatre arts major and a native of Farmington. He graduated from Davis High School and is now a senior at Weber. He is being advised by Dr. Ronald Ludwig. Actresses (left to right) Holly Fowers, Susan Seifert and Lynne Jones are cast in some of the star roles in the upcoming WSC production, Eden Creek." Hamblin appeared in the 1987 Utah Musical Theatre production of Hello Dolly and has appeared in many other WSC productions. We have selected an extremely versatile and strong cast, Ham 18-2- further information or J1 626-643- The chorus is open to women of all ages. We have young and old alike. Many people feel that they are too old to sing. That is not the case, she said. If someone has a desire to sing I feel that they should have the opportunity. We welcome said Mrs. Gatrell. The Ruth Gatrell Singers have sung at the Dickens Festival the Composers Guild, Daughter of Utah Pioneers national convention and Utah State DUP conventions, at numerous LDS ward and stake functions. all ages. The singers meet on Thursday nights, for working mothers, and Friday mornings. For more information call Mrs. Gatrell at 451-227- Attention Good Drivers r 5. ... On Car" Insurance Ycrfh 13 i I I Alinulcs Of Ycur Time? I Is Smring $J A quick phone call to your local GEICO office could save you $50, $60, $70 or more on your car insurance. How can GEICO save you so much money? We only insure Good Drivers. And because Good Drivers have fewer accidents that saves us money. We pass these savings on to you. And GEICO offers Good Drivers ... Convenient payment plans claim service 24-ho- Call us today or stop by our local office: 773-059- 5 I I I I I I I I 1981 N. Main, Layton (Corner of Main & Antelope) I School. Dr. Corey, a country doctor in her thirties, is portrayed by Sharon G. Rowiette. She has appeared in The Merchant of Venice, Antigone and As You Like It as well as other roles. Claire is portrayed by Susan Seifert. She has been in several WSC and University of Utah productions. Lynne Jones is cast in the role of Abby. The audience is invited to a symposium after the production of where the play will be discussed with the playwright. Director and tickets are available at the Dee Events Center Ticket Office. WSC to hold play auditions Auditions for the Wejier State Department of Performing Arts presentation of Humperdincks Opera Hansel and Gretel will take place on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday evenings, Nov. 2, 3, and 4, beginning at 7 p.m. each evening in the Austad Auditorium of the Val Browning Center. Nov. 2 will be reserved for Weber State students only, with Nov. 3 and 4 open to the college and community. All lead roles are available. There is also a childrens chorus needed for the production. Children should audition at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4. Those auditioning for lead roles should come prepared to sing from the opera if possible, or a representative operatic aria. 0 and The play runs Feb. 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