Free hospital-sponsored concert features three musicians Sept. 19

A free concert, featuring three international touring musicians, is being sponsored by Door County Memorial Hospital at 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, at Door Community Auditorium in Fish Creek.

Performing during the event, billed by organizers as “A Celebration of Community” are: Corky Siegel, a composer, blues pianist and singer-songwriter; Dorothy Scott, singer-songwriter, guitarist and producer; and Sons of the Never Wrong, a folk trio from Chicago. The artists are affiliated with the Art of Music.

Jennifer Fischer, director of the hospital’s Women’s and Children’s Health Center, said the idea behind the concert is for the hospital to give back to the community by offering people a free evening of healthy and enjoyable entertainment and refreshments.

“Door County Memorial Hospital has been a significant partner in the community, and the free concert is our way of saying thanks for coming to us for your care,” Fischer said.

The event has been renamed this year from “Women’s Night Out,” which it was called for about 10 years, to “Celebration of Community.”

“It really is an event for the whole community, not just women, but everybody. It will be a fun evening,” Fischer said.

Other hospital events, such as the open house for our Women’s and Children’s Health Center (conducted in 2007) were called Celebration of Community, too.

“This title speaks to our vital role as part of the infrastructure of Door County, as well as demonstrating our commitment to community at these occasions,” said Steve Quade, vice president of Business and Hospitality Services, who oversees the hospital’s large-scale special events and marketing. ”As our mission says, we are committed to the health and well-being of the community and celebration – especially musical - is an essential,” he added.

DCMH, a part of Ministry Health Care, understands the role the arts play in relieving stress and facilitating health and healing, Fischer added.

“Research has shown that people who are involved in creativity and art have longer life spans and their stress-levels can be reduced. The concert, as well as other programs we do in the hospital’s Art for Health initiative, is about living a healthy life,” she said.

The DCMH/MHC Women’s and Children’s Health Center recently sponsored a series of spring and summer Art for Health workshops which gave kids opportunity to tap into their creativity. Some of the children will perform one song with the musicians on Sept. 19.

The audience will hear blues, jazz and folk music.

Siegel has earned an international reputation as one of the great blues harmonica masters. He received the Lila Wallace/Reader’s Digest’s “Meet the Composer” national award for composition as well as the Illinois Arts Council Fellowship Award for Music Composition.

Scott’s music incorporates blues, folk, rock and jazz. She is often compared to Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison and Jeff Buckley. Critics have said her music is imbued with “emotional honesty” and her vocal delivery ”connects her with audiences on multiple levels.” “Rolling Stone” magazine voted Scott’s “Restless Machinery” CD number one in its 2002 “Chart Section.”

Sons of the Never Wrong is a trio made up of Sue Demel, Deborah Lader and Bruce Roper. Their original turbo-charged folk music is based on three-part harmony and songs that are both witty and whimsical.

“To get a free show with three international touring artists is pretty amazing,” said Terry Lundahl, executive director of the Art of Music.

“The hospital has been such a strong supporter of the Art of Music, and we are so grateful,” she continued.

The Art of Music is a not-for-profit organization with a mission to enhance the culture of the community by providing quality performances by national touring artists. DCMH/MHC also sponsored a series of winter and summer Art of Music concerts, Lundahl said.

Doors will open at about 7 p.m. for the Sept. 19 concert at the Door Community Auditorium, 3926 Hwy. 42.

Exhibits with health information—including DCMH/MHC’s next series of Art for Health classes--will be open in advance of the concert. Complimentary desserts and beverages will be available during the intermission.

Registration for the concert is not necessary, and more information is available online at dcmh.org or by calling Lundahl at 920/493-5979.