| | Published June 26th, 2019
| Free community celebration marks Lamorinda Music's 10th anniversary
| | | By Pippa Fisher |  | | Lamorinda Music staff, from left: Scott Lindorfer (strings specialist), John McCormick (owner), Colleen McCormick (owner), Lauren Zampa (director of operations), and John Quell (band instrument repair technician). Photo Pippa Fisher |
Lamorinda Music is throwing a huge, free four-hour party from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 29 in celebration of its 10th anniversary.
It will all be happening right there in the parking lot of Lafayette's "music row" in front of Lamorinda Music on Lafayette Circle.
"This is going to be a community event," explains Lamorinda Music Director of Operations Lauren Zampa. "We are very excited to celebrate with the community that's made us what we are today," she says.
Zampa's enthusiasm is contagious. She has enjoyed the over six months of planning this birthday bash - and that is going to be reflected in all the fun on offer at the event.
There will be continuous live music for all four hours with performances from Bob Athayde, Stevie Coyle and many of Lamorinda Music's own instructors as well as the Uke Club and special guests.
The store's ukulele teacher Gary Peare, who played at Lamorinda Music's opening 10 years ago, will be offering a beginner class inside the store from 10:30 a.m. to noon. The drop-in class will teach students two songs, which they will later have an opportunity to perform. Ukuleles will be available to borrow at no cost and every participant will receive a prize. The class is a "pay-what-you-can" with a suggested donation of $20.
And talking of prizes, thanks to donations from Yamaha Music and Kala Ukulele, there will be "guitarele" and two ukuleles as raffle prizes, along with lots of free water bottles.
Canasta and IzzyA's food trucks will be there for those wishing to purchase snacks and Philz will be providing free iced coffee.
Lamorinda Music owners John and Colleen McCormick reflect on how the store has changed in 10 years. "Initially the store was only 1,800 square feet," says Colleen. When the fitness center left in 2012 she and her husband expanded the store to 5,000 square feet with a much larger retail area, full repair shop, 10 lesson studios and a group performance area (the Big Room).
"We are part of a collaborative community of music and performing arts," explains Colleen talking of their neighbors on the block - Performing Academy, and Mighty Fine Guitars owned by her uncle, guitarist Stevie Coyle.
Now the store offers instrument sales, rentals and repairs, along with lessons. They have 25 teachers. They offer several jam clubs for all ages.
Colleen says people come to them from all over the Bay Area; from San Francisco to Brentwood and Pleasanton. They do the repairs for several school districts and provide rentals to schools as far away as Brisbane.
It's significant growth in just 10 years. "And this is the thank you party," says Colleen. |
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA